Lilongwe Central Church
Off Presidential Drive. P.O Box 30426. Lilongwe Lilongwe Malawi Tel : +265 (0) 1771 263
What Is the Second Angel’s Message?
The second angel’s message can be found in Revelation 14:8 and reads as follows:
“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.’”
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The Message
The message of the first angel points out God’s side in the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. The message of the second angel describes Satan’s side of the conflict. This message can sound intimidating. The total collapse of a great city or civilization is a scary and unsettling event. The consequences seem dire.
However, for the people of God, the collapse of Babylon is truly a triumphant event. Babylon (from the Hebrew word meaning confusion) is the power that has oppressed God’s people. Babylon has tried to counterfeit the true salvation offered through the death and mediation of Christ. This great city, also portrayed as an immoral prostitute, has introduced many false teachings that exactly counter the free gift of grace through faith as taught by Christ. Her wine is a mix of ideas that include attempts to secure one’s own salvation through human works and human intercession. These ideas work to confuse the Earth’s people.
Cooperating with Satan, Babylon seeks to destroy human trust in God and entice people to follow her licentious ways, and if she cannot persuade, she will force her will on whomever she can. But both her tactics lead only to death and destruction.
No wonder God’s true people are overjoyed at her destruction. The destruction of Babylon means that their oppressor is defeated and their Captain has won! The Lamb who was slain is now the Victor! Righteousness, justice and peace win out over confusion, destruction and death. Now Christ can set up His eternal kingdom where He will reign with sovereign justice and offer everlasting life to all those who remain faithful to Him.
But the main point of this second message, spoken so forcefully by the angel, is that there is still time to make a choice. God knows that there are still some people who, though listening to the lies of the prostitute, are in reality seeking something better, something more genuine and authentic. They are the ones the angel is calling. There is still time to come out of Babylon and join the ranks of the saints of God. “I heard another voice form heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues…’” (Revelation 18:4).
Notice that God says, “Come out of her, my people...” He claims even those in Babylon as His own. God yearns for His beloved people to be saved from the plagues that Babylon will suffer. He desires, more than anything, to whisk them out of hopelessness and into the hope of an eternity lived with Him.
But He can’t do that. He chooses not to use the tactics of the immoral prostitute. He won’t force people entangled in the deceptions of Babylon to leave them behind. He can only call and wait for them to answer.
But He can’t do that. He chooses not to use the tactics of the immoral prostitute. He won’t force people entangled in the deceptions of Babylon to leave them behind. He can only call and wait for them to answer.
He loves you too much to take away your freedom of choice. He can only ask you to give it. What will you do with that request? Will you shut out the call of Christ’s last appeal? Or will you allow yourself to be drawn out of Babylon and into His waiting arms of love? The choice is yours. Choose Jesus today!
