By John Thiel, Second Angel’s Message, study 4, mp3

Babylon is those who rejected the first angels message particularly in the USA.  What is apostate Protestantism? It is the religious side of the USA being Babylon. Protestantism and Republicanism are used by Satan to re-power the papacy and  the papacy is working behind the scenes. The papacy has infiltrated America so that America could be used to again restore the fatal wound that the papacy had received. The rejecters of the first angel’s message were announced as 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. GC 389

It’s a message that continued to be proclaimed. The churches had a moral downfall as a result of their refusal of the Advent message but that fall was not complete.

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. GC 389

We see that churches keep on falling and the new ones that come in out of the condition of the other ones are also falling and declining. Therefore the message of the second angel is not to be confused with applying it to the Roman church.

The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. GC 383

Babylon cannot refer to the Roman church as it refers to the churches in the last days that have been following in Rome’s path. The protestant churches of America were once pure which is why they raised the American nation. They ran away from the impurities of the European experience. The American nation itself was based on Republicanism wanting to be pure, and the churches were meant to be pure. They were in total opposition to the papal religion and politics that the papacy was part of – the lamblike horns of Republicanism and Protestantism.

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

What they were running away from would spread nonetheless.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The reason for the rise of America was to get away from the papal power but it was recuperated again and spread its influence across the entire world. History shows the French Revolution took the pope down and he was exiled and the Catholic Church was decimated. The Catholic Church felt they had to do something. One particular man by the name of Ignatius Loyola raised a society called the Society of Jesus Christ known as the Jesuits for the purpose of restoring the honour and power of the papacy to win back total papal dominance. The head of the Jesuit movement is called the black pope.

The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests. GC 580.2

America was the nation that was rising in 1798 and one of the central purposes of the Jesuit movement was to undermine this state by their systematic infiltration. They were prepared to become members and ministers of protestant churches and yet be members of the Jesuit movement. That was part of their manifesto to recover papal domination.

God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men.  GC 581.2

The infiltration is in:

• legislative halls

• churches

• lives of individuals

The papacy infiltrates the USA and finally the USA does the work of the papacy. It’s not the papacy that is working upfront but it is working behind the scenes. America is the instrument that is not seen as being used by the papacy.

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Exercising all the power of the first beast (the papacy) because it is working behind the scenes, and causes the earth to worship the first beast.  The technological wonders of USA are being used. He causes, not dictates. It is subtle work and will affect everyone.

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, students of prophecy in the United States have presented this testimony to the world. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. With Protestant teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for Sunday keeping, and the same lack of Scriptural evidence, as with the papal leaders who fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command from God. GC 579 -580

The Protestant teachers are preaching and teaching the same as the Catholic church did. Why? Because of the infiltration.

The assertion that God’s judgments are visited upon men for their violation of the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning to be urged. And a movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground. GC 579 -580

Who is behind this? While the Protestants say you must have religious liberty, underneath is the force that works to enforce Sunday keeping.

Marvelous in her shrewdness and cunning is the Roman Church. She can read what is to be. She bides her time, seeing that the Protestant churches are paying her homage in their acceptance of the false sabbath and that they are preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come to the help of Protestants in this work it is not difficult to conjecture. Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those who are disobedient to the church? {GC 580.1}

The Roman Catholic Church with all her ramifications throughout the world forms one vast organization. She works subtly not in an open controlling manner as she did before. This subtle work causes the world to submit itself to the same dictates that the Catholic Church used to control the world by two great errors.

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. GC 588.1

How subtle, unnoticed by people. Though Rome is behind it all it will CAUSE to worship the beast under USA. The world will see USA doing it, not the papacy. This subtle way of working leaves the papacy in good eyes. The Pope has apologised for the persecution of the Dark Ages.  This is the power of control, not like the Dark Ages anymore but subtle means that will finally do its damage.  How will we individually be infiltrated? What will USA and its miracles do to us?

Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Here is the biblical inspired illumination of how the people will be infiltrated. We need to especially understand this as Christians.

The Abundance of Her Delicacies

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Privily, in a private way. They will make merchandise through their merchandise mingle together with their pernicious ways in the false teachings of the Bible. Intermingled with the false doctrines is the merchandising. The false doctrines are delicacies which people will be made merchandise of. Recall how the faithful city became a harlot.  Who are the faithful?

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

They are not of the world as Jesus was not of the world. This is the faithful church. Who is the harlot? Who are the adulterers?

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Christians are meant to be in the world but not of the world or its ways. The world has crept in to the Christian people and they have become a harlot. That is what we read in the past.

The first angel’s message of Revelation 14, announcing the hour of God’s judgment and calling upon men to fear and worship Him, was designed to separate the professed people of God from the corrupting influences of the world and to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and backsliding. GC 379

The first angel’s message came to arouse them that the world had infiltrated into them.

In this message, God has sent to the church a warning, which, had it been accepted, would have corrected the evils that were shutting them away from Him. Had they received the message from heaven, humbling their hearts before the Lord and seeking in sincerity a preparation to stand in His presence, the Spirit and power of God would have been manifested among them. The church would again have reached that blessed state of unity, faith, and love which existed in apostolic days, when the believers were of one heart and of one soul,. and spake the word of God with boldness,. when the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. GC 379

There was a condition that caused the presentation of the first angel’s message. It’s time to go back to original gospel purity, but as that message came to them, they rejected it. Why?

As the founders, those who possessed the true spirit of reform, pass away, their descendants come forward and new-model the cause. While blindly clinging to the creed of their fathers and refusing to accept any truth in advance of what they saw, the children of the reformers depart widely from their example of humility, self-denial, and renunciation of the world. Thus the first simplicity disappears. A worldly flood, flowing into the church, carries with it its customs, practices, and idols. GC 385

The infiltration is the same infiltration as what happened in the apostolic time and what happens now in the time of the churches of America, what can happen to us. The principle is the same. It is to do with the merchandise of the world in conjunction with religious materials. Notice how we today are conditioned by the abundance of her delicacies, the resplendent richness of worldliness, so that domination of the papacy can take over.

Alas, to what a fearful extent is that friendship of the world which is “enmity with God,” now cherished among the professed followers of Christ! How widely have the popular churches throughout Christendom departed from the Bible standard of humility, self-denial, simplicity, and godliness! Said John Wesley, in speaking of the right use of money: “Do not waste any part of so precious a talent, merely in gratifying the desire of the eye, by superfluous or expensive apparel, or by needless ornaments. Waste no part of it in curiously adorning your houses; in superfluous or expensive furniture; in costly pictures, painting, gilding. . . . Lay out nothing to gratify the pride of life, to gain the admiration or praise of men. . . . ‘So long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.’ So long as thou art ‘clothed in purple and fine linen,’ and farest ‘sumptuously every day,’ no doubt many will applaud thy elegance of taste, thy generosity and hospitality. But do not buy their applause so dear. Rather be content with the honor that cometh from God.”–Wesley, Works, Sermon 50, “The Use of Money.” But in many churches of our time such teaching is disregarded. {GC 385.2}

Look at the houses, the expensive materials.  We have become dependent on things that are really not necessities, but we view them as necessities.  For example, there was once was a couple who had a child but didn’t have enough money to buy a basinet for the baby, so they put the baby in the box that used to contain their TV. This kind of infiltration affects the mind in such a way that when it comes to the delicacies of the papacy of false teaching, Easter and Christmas from pagan/papal Rome, it becomes a source of monetary gain by the merchants.  The papacy develops a strangle-hold by means of this activity and captivates the attention of the world by reaching their senses and practices of idolatry.

It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for symmetry of character. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord’s appearing. The world is in darkness. “But ye, brethren,” says Paul, “are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” It is ever God’s purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul. {5T 215.4}

What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. {5T 216}

The infiltration is that the world mingles in with the church and as this becomes a dominating force. People are preparing to receive mark of the beast, which is Sunday.

Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity. Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. {5T 216}

When Sunday enforcement comes in what will be caused upon all the people of the earth? They will not be able to buy or sell save those that have the mark of the beast.  Can you see the infiltration? When it’s too late, people will wake up. The papal infiltration works through the senses and the enjoyment of the world. As your heart is drawn out to supposed needs contrary to the attitude of the reformers of the past, as you become dependent, it dominates you. The infiltration has slowly made you dependent upon things which you can’t do without any more. Then when the ability to purchase that is taken away unless you succumb to their demands you will be in danger of falling.  Idolatrous worldliness is a characteristic of papal display. Instead we must be molded for heaven in going in the opposite direction.

Many Protestants suppose that the Catholic religion is unattractive and that its worship is a dull, meaningless round of ceremony. Here they mistake. While Romanism is based upon deception, it is not a coarse and clumsy imposture. The religious service of the Roman Church is a most impressive ceremonial. It’s gorgeous display and solemn rites fascinate the senses of the people and silence the voice of reason and of conscience. GC 566

Doesn’t the world fascinate us today? This is the infiltration. This is what they are masters at.

The eye is charmed. Magnificent churches, imposing processions, golden altars, jeweled shrines, choice paintings, and exquisite sculpture appeal to the love of beauty. The ear also is captivated. The music is unsurpassed. The rich notes of the deep-toned organ, blending with the melody of many voices as it swells through the lofty domes and pillared aisles of her grand cathedrals, cannot fail to impress the mind with awe and reverence. This outward splendor, pomp, and ceremony, that only mocks the longings of the sin-sick soul, is an evidence of inward corruption. The religion of Christ needs not such attractions to recommend it. In the light shining from the cross, true Christianity appears so pure and lovely that no external decorations can enhance its true worth. It is the beauty of holiness, a meek and quiet spirit, which is of value with God. Brilliancy of style is not necessarily an index of pure, elevated thought. High conceptions of art, delicate refinement of taste, often exist in minds that are earthly and sensual. They are often employed by Satan to lead men to forget the necessities of the soul, to lose sight of the future, immortal life, to turn away from their infinite Helper, and to live for this world alone. A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart. The pomp and ceremony of the Catholic worship has a seductive, bewitching power, by which many are deceived; and they come to look upon the Roman Church as the very gate of heaven. None but those who have planted their feet firmly upon the foundation of truth, and whose hearts are renewed by the Spirit of God, are proof against her influence. Thousands who have not an experimental knowledge of Christ will be led to accept the forms of godliness without the power. Such a religion is just what the multitudes desire.  GC 566

An emotional dream world is created. This is why they want democracy. The multitudes want it and those who do not want it will be opposed and condemned by the multitude.The first angel’s message needs to be firmly embraced, a strictly non-worldly behaviour so that we will not be infiltrated and dominated. That is what the first angel’s message was given for, to cleanse the church from the infiltration. By rejecting the first angel’s message you become part of Babylon.

Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth. GC 488.1

There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. GC 490

When you see it in the light of the infiltration you can see why it is so. Our focus must be on the first angel’s message and then the second angel’s message becomes our message Babylon is fallen. We don’t want anything to do with it. It’s not just a political thing, it’s not just a church thing, it’s personal.

Amen.