The Builders of Babel

Some of the descendants of Noah soon began to apostatize.... Some disbelieved in the existence of God.... Others believed that God existed.... Those who were enemies of God felt daily reproved by the righteous conversation and godly lives of those who loved, obeyed, and exalted God. The unbelieving consulted among themselves and agreed to separate from the faithful.... They journeyed a distance from them, and selected a large plain wherein to dwell. They built them a city, and then conceived the idea of building a large tower to reach unto the clouds, that they might ... be no more scattered.... They would build their tower to a much greater height than the waters prevailed in the time of the Flood ... and they would be as gods and rule over the people....TA 72.1

They exalted themselves against God. But He would not permit them to complete their work. They had built their tower to a lofty height, when the Lord sent two angels to confound them in their work.... The angels confounded their language.... After this, there was no harmony in their work. Angry with one another and unable to account for the misunderstanding, and strange words among them, they left the work and separated from each other, and scattered abroad in the earth. Up to this time, men had spoken but one language. Lightning from heaven, as a token of God's wrath, broke off the top of their tower, casting it to the ground.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:92, 93.TA 72.2