This scenario also applies to our journey through life on earth. Life was given to us without our asking for it; it was offered with a precisely defined aim by our Creator. Everyone’s life is unique in its own way; it is a journey in a new and unknown way. We need a map, roadsigns, milestones or principles to go by, that both our physical and spiritual life be not branded by failure, confusion, waywardness or even accidents, thereby causing us to fail of reaching the goal. For our safety, God does not leave us to grope in foggy darkness from which there is no escape—in a chaotic journey without a precise destination. Instead, through His word He tells us: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Buy they said, We will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Despite the fact that men have chosen—from the very beginning as well as throughout human history—the path of sin, disobedience and rebellion against God’s principles, the Lord in His great love did not leave us to be doomed under the power of Satan, to live hopelessly with no compass, roadsigns, or principles to follow. Instead, He has revealed to us how we can choose the path leading to a sure destination, the paradise that had been lost by sin. Through His inspired Word, He has provided a handy guide for our daily life. In the Bible, God reveals the objective of our life on this earth and the destination to be reached if we accept His plan of salvation through Christ. “Jesus said unto him: I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’ (John 14:6). The golden text of the Bible reveals God’s love and His aim for our lives as follows: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The last book of the Bible presents the “Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1), and we can see, on the one hand, certain messages of warning and hope from God for those who choose the path of faith founded in love, obedience, and victory through His grace over the enemy, over sin and all forms of perversion of the principles the Creator has laid out. On the other hand, we find warnings and judgments for the vast majority of people and worldwide political and religious powers which have decided in the past—and continue so in our days in a more aggravated form—to ignore, defy, and yes, even to change the roadsigns or principles left by God for all humanity.

Therefore, in the book of Revelation, in chapter 14, we find three messages brought by angels, addressing “them that dwell on the earth, . . . every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6, last part). We understand that these messages from God are global in scope and must be preached to everyone, the aim being to reveal the real condition of a world wallowing under the deep curse of sin, and to proclaim the saving solution offered through Jesus Christ. The Lord did not entrust the preaching of the everlasting gospel to literal angels, although they would have been able to accomplish this task. Instead, it was entrusted to the first disciples and to all who would live thenceforth for the remainder of this world’s history. The summons was: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15, 16), and, according to the Bible, angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

“As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity. A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world. And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known the unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Ephesians 3:8.)”1

“Christ is coming the second time, with power unto salvation. To prepare human beings for this event, He has sent the first, second, and third angels’ messages. These angels represent those who receive the truth, and with power open the gospel to the world.”2

The message of the second angel is introduced by the words: “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8). This message is a profoundly negative one, unveiling the degraded condition modern spiritual Babylon has reached, in consequence of departing from God and His word. The phrase “is fallen, is fallen” suggests the accuracy with which these things are being fulfilled. What does it mean? “The term Babylon is derived from Babel, and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.”3

When did this message begin to be preached and how does it apply in our time? Is it still relevant for us today? What will be the final outcome of the corrupt system designed by men and represented by the confusion of Babylon?

“The second angel’s message of Revelation 14 was first preached in the summer of 1844, and it then had a more direct application to the churches of the United States, where the warning of the judgment had been most widely proclaimed and most generally rejected, and where the declension in the churches had been most rapid. But the message of the second angel did not reach its complete fulfillment in 1844. The churches then experienced a moral fall, in consequence of their refusal of the light of the advent message; but that fall was not complete. As they have continued to reject the special truths for this time they have fallen lower and lower. Not yet, however, can it be said that ‘Babylon is fallen, . . . because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ She has not yet made all nations do this. The spirit of world conforming and indifference to the testing truths for our time exists and has been gaining ground in churches of the Protestant faith in all the countries of Christendom; and these churches are included in the solemn and terrible denunciation of the second angel. But the work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination.”4

“The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord, Satan will work ‘with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness;’ and they that ‘received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,’ will be left to receive ‘strong delusion, that they should believe a lie’ (2 Thessalonians 2:9–11). Not until this condition shall be reached, and the union of the church with the world shall be fully accomplished throughout Christendom, will the fall of Babylon be complete. The change is a progressive one, and the perfect fulfillment of Revelation 14:8 is yet future.”5

This message describes the negative impact of Babylon’s influence and its wayward teaching upon every nation on the planet. We can see here the complicity of the nations along with the apostate churches in drinking of this malicious brew, represented by “the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

“The great sin charged against Babylon is that she ‘made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ.”6

The Bible reveals how planet Earth is burdened with the curse of sin and all the ensuing evil, lawless, existing practices. It also reveals the yearning for freedom, for salvation, on the part of those who are looking forward for Christ’s second coming. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22, 23). Why has our world reached such profound spiritual degradation? What is God’s attitude towards the sinful practices of the world in which we live?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. . . . Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. . . . Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:18, 19, 21–28, 32).

Although the message of the second angel has a strongly negative content, it must, nonetheless, be proclaimed to the entire world in order to save souls who sincerely desire to escape the confusion, deceit and corrupting influences of the professed churches that form today’s Babylon. This message shows that any attempt of people to depart, ignore, or even despise the principles of God’s law and of His Word result in degradation or the spiritual decline of human society. Many people of different social religion and even political backgrounds, take notice of the current reality—the reality of human laws being implemented against the Word of God, the family institution, and other biblical principles. As a result, they are frightened by the direction that the world is heading and are anxious to find a way of escape or salvation from the imminent dangers that threaten it. Nowadays we can see very clearly the moral and physical degradation into which society has sunken. Sin takes an honorable place. Various forms of perversions have become legal in the realm of civil laws and even in the churches that have made an ecumenical alliance around modern-day Babylon. At the same time, we can see how people’s liberties and God-given freedoms are at stake, and those who want to remain loyal to God and the principles of His Word will soon be viewed as hindrances to the accomplishment of some devilish measures.

“The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place—that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.”7

“If popery or its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization.”8

“Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are connected. As these bodies depart further and further from the truth, and ally themselves more closely with the world, the difference between the two classes will widen, and it will finally result in separation. The time will come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in connection with such as are ‘lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”9

Jesus declared: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

“The words of Jesus Christ are spoken to us living down here in the close of this earth’s history. ‘When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’ The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. The waves of the sea are roaring; men’s hearts are failing them for fear and for expectation of those things that are coming upon the earth; but those who believe on the Son of God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, ‘It is I; be not afraid.’ . . . We see the world lying in wickedness and apostasy. Rebellion to the commandments of God seems almost universal. Amid the tumult of excitement with confusion in every place, there is a work to be done in the world.”10

“The third angel’s message is to be proclaimed with a loud voice. Tremendous issues are before us. We have no time to lose. God forbid that we should allow minor matters to eclipse the light which should be given to the world.”11

“No longer have the hosts of evil power to keep the church captive; for ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,’ which hath ‘made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication;’ and to spiritual Israel is given the message, ‘Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.’ [Revelation 14] Verse 8; 18:4. As the captive exiles heeded the message, ‘Flee out of the midst of Babylon’ (Jeremiah 51:6), and were restored to the Land of Promise, so those who fear God today are heeding the message to withdraw from spiritual Babylon, and soon they are to stand as trophies of divine grace in the earth made new, the heavenly Canaan. . . .

“In these final hours of probation for the sons of men, when the fate of every soul is so soon to be decided forever, the Lord of heaven and earth expects His church to arouse to action as never before.”12

“There needs to be a waking up among God’s people, that His work may be carried forward with power. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We need to understand that God will add to the ranks of His people men of ability and influence, who are to act their part in warning the world. All in the world are not lawless and sinful. God has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. There are God-fearing men in the fallen churches. If this were not so, we should not be given the message to bear, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. . . . Come out of her, My people. ’ ”13

May God bless us all in the fulfillment of His plans in our lives during the dangerous times in which we live. May we cultivate unshaken faith in Him and maintain our identity as His children, His peculiar people, in a world rapidly approaching its end. May we work with more zealous determination under the mighty influence of the Holy Spirit in behalf of the salvation of our neighbors, that we be victors through His grace, and heirs of His kingdom for eternity. Amen.