The Three Angels’ Messages
We also have a plain reference to this same great movement in Revelation 14:6-10. This scripture presents to our view the proclamation of three symbolic messengers, doubtless symbols of movements of those whom God has specially raised up to give important truths in the last days, to prepare a people for Christ’s coming. These must be last-day messages. They are to be proclaimed to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”ChSa 177.1
The first message brings us to the “hour of his judgment,” which must denote the preliminary work of judgment which takes place a little before Christ comes. This first proclamation evidently is designed to call special attention to the fact that Christ is soon to come. Such a message has been in process of proclamation for forty years in the past, in the great advent movement specially prominent from 1840-44. It is still being given in every part of the earth.ChSa 177.2
The second message of warning proclaims the fall of Babylon. There is no great literal city of that name upon the earth. The term must therefore be used as a symbol. The word “Babylon” signifies confusion or mixture, a religious condition where truth and error are mixed together in systems of doctrines partly true and partly false. This must include a large portion of Christendom. The language indicates a state of moral declension in piety and devotion, which will largely prevail throughout the world in the last days; a state of conformity to a worldly standard a lack of that earnestness, among many who have professed the religion of Christ, which was seen in ages past. We think no thoughtful, candid person can deny that we have reached just such a time.ChSa 177.3
The third message of Revelation 14 reads as follows: “The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”ChSa 178.1
Whatever may be the reader’s views of the meaning of this scripture, if he has any reverence for the word of God he must believe that here is brought to view a most solemn and important work. No other threatening in all the Bible is so fearful as this. Some great issue is here to be brought to bear upon mankind. We cannot question the fact that this is a last day message, the very last to be given to the world previous to the time when one “like unto the Son of man” is beheld coming on a white cloud to reap the harvest of the earth. Revelation 14:14-16. “The harvest is the end of the world.” Matthew 13:39. Christ ascended on high from Olivet, and a cloud received him out of the sight of his disciples. The shining ones who stood by said, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10, 11. We see the prediction fulfilled in the scripture we are noticing, and we therefore conclude that this third message is a special proclamation of some important truth which is to test the world just before the Savior comes the second time.ChSa 178.2
What is the nature of the work indicated in this warning message? First, it is a threatening against those who worship a power called the “beast;” secondly, it brings to view a people who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”ChSa 179.1