"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
BABYLON -- THEN and NOW, part 8 quotes
1) The Third Angel's Message
"And 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name....
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 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. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" Revelation 14:9-
11, 18:1-5.
The Third Angel's Message basically repeats the messages of the First and Second Angels. But it does not stop there, as it reveals quite a few more areas of truth.
Truths such as:
-- The Beast of Revelation 13 represents the Roman Catholic Church (Revelation 13:1-8; Daniel 7:8-14, 20-21, 24-27, 8:9-14, 23-25; Great Controversy, p 438-450; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 972), with one of its foundational pillars being the Eucharist–which is a most "blasphemous" and "heaven-insulting heresy" (Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 63). Also, the Pope and the Catholic system is the Anti-christ (Great Controversy, p 142-143; Testimonies to Ministers, p 37), and it is the duty of God’s people is to expose him and the papacy (Evangelism, p 233; Selected Messages, book 1, p 196).
-- The Lamb-like Beast of Revelatoin 13 is the United States of America, which gives life to the Image of the Beast (Revelation 13:11-17; Great Controversy, p 440-445).
-- The Image of the Beast of Revelation 13 is the Protestant Churches which image Catholicism, including the World Council of Churches (Revelation 13:15-18; Great Controversy, p 443-450; Selected Messages, book 3, p 385). This image is formed when the churches unite together upon a platform of common belief in Christ, and then "influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions" (Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 277-278), and it is also the duty of God’ people to warn all against this power.
-- The Mark of the Beast is Sunday worship – which is the special day of Catholicism. The mark is given to those who worship on Sunday when they obey the Sunday law while knowing that it is not God's Sabbath day (Revelation 13:16-17; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 976-980; Testimonies, vol 6, p 17; vol 8, p 159; Great Controversy, p 449-450, 578-579).
-- Religious Liberty is our God-given right to study for ourselves, to stand by what we are convicted is truth, to personally proclaim only God’s truth to others, and also to expose error in seeking to set people free from it (Great Controversy, p 563-566; Testimonies, vol 5, p 714-716; Testimonies to Ministers, p 200-203; Testimonies, vol 6, p 402-403). It also means that we are not to obey the civil authorities in regards to this Sunday law, or any other law that conflicts with any of God’s commandments (Acts 5:29, 4:19; Selected Messages, book 2, p 375, 380; Testimonies to Ministers, p 473; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 910; Testimonies, vol 6, p 193; Fundamentals of Christian Education, p 287; Great Controversy, p 449).
-- The wrath of God is the literal seven last plagues which will fall upon the wicked and kills them (Revelation 16; Early Writings, p 44, 64, 289-290; Testimonies, vol 5, p 211, 634; vol 9, p 234-235).
-- The non-immortality of the soul (Job 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Hebrews 9:27), is the truth that there is only a grave to rest in at death, but there is no hell or purgatory to descend into (1 Corinthians 15:51; Acts 13:36; Psalms 88:10-12; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). And the gift of immortality is only given to the righteous at Christ's second coming (2 Timothy 2:11-12; Job 19:26-27; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Great Controversy, p 549-551, 586-587; Testimonies, vol 1, p 344; Gospel Workers, p 119-120).
-- The Sanctuary in heaven (Great Controversy, p 324-329, 351-353, 398-400, 409-436; Patriarchs and Prophets, p 351-358) contains 2 sacred apartments (Hebrews 9 & 10) – the holy place or the first apartment (Revelation 4:1-5; Hebrews 9:2, 6, 12, 6:19; Leviticus 16:15) and most holy place or the second apartment (Revelation 11:19; Hebrews 9:3-5, 7; Psalms 28:2; 1 Kings 6:16, 8:6; 2 Chronicles 5:7; Exodus 40:3).
-- Christ's work of atonement is currently taking place in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and it began on October 22, 1844 when the end of the 2300 days/year prophecy of Daniel 8, and will not end until Christ finishes His work just prior to His coming (Great Controversy, p 400, 419-422; Early Writings, p 251-254; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 933; Patriarchs and Prophets, p 355-358; Testimonies, vol 5, p 472-473).
-- Christ is the Head or first Minister of His church (Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1083; Acts of Apostles, p 360; Selected Messages, book 1, p 93; Testimonies, vol 1, p 78; vol 4, p 393; Desire of Ages, p 288; Sons and Daughters of God, p 303), is also our High Priest and Mediator between God and mankind (Hebrews 7, 8 & 10; Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1145; vol 6, p 1061, 1077-1078, 1116; Selected Messages, book 1, p 243, 332).
-- The true church of God is founded only on Christ and His truth (Desire of Ages, p 413; Acts of Apostles, p 175-176, 595-596; Testimonies, vol 9, p 147; Prophets and Kings, p 595-596). The marks of God’s true church are listed in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 – being those who "keep the commandments of God," who have the "faith of Jesus," and who keep the "testimony of Jesus Christ" (Great Controversy, p 453-454) which is "the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10) or the writings of Ellen G. White (Testimonies to Ministers, p 114; Selected Messages, book 1, p 27, 41; Evangelism, p 257; Testimonies, vol 4, p 13). Hence these writings have their continuing purpose, and are still to be followed today as a guiding light until Christ comes (Selected Messages, book 1, p 48-50; Life Sketches, p 198; Publishing Ministry, p 361; Testimonies, vol 5, p 64, 654, 672-691; vol 3, p 257, 260)!
-- The Righteousness of Christ is the precious conditional gift of His righteous life (Sons and Daughters of God, p 189; Selected Messages, book 1, p 377; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 223; Prophets and Kings, p 591; Sons and Daughters of God, p 369) imputed to every repentant sinner by faith (Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1071-1072; Selected Messages, book 1, p 392, 397, 317, 363; Sons and Daughters of God, p 240; Testimonies, vol 5, p 469; vol 3, p 371-372; Gospel Workers, p 161; Testimonies, vol 8, p 208-209; My Life Today, p 311; Mount of Blessings, p 115-116; Medical Ministry, p 115). This holy covering enables us to be accepted back to God (Patriarchs and Prophets, p 353), and then to receive His grace (Patriarchs and Prophets, p 431; Selected Messages, book 1, p 351). This grace enables us to overcome all sin, perfecting holiness in the fear of God before Christ's second coming (Prophets and Kings, p 175; Testimonies, vol 4, p 567; Testimonies to Ministers, p 92, 150; Testimonies, vol 3, p 528; Desire of Ages, p 555-556; Selected Messages, book 1, p 395; Acts of Apostles, p 531; Sons and Daughters of God, p 315; Testimonies, vol 5, p 744). In order to become perfect we must use our will power to take the first step in obedience to God before His grace comes to help us overcome (Joshua 3:13, 15-17; My Life Today, p 100), and Christ's righteousness is imparted to us (Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 972; Evangelism, p 596; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1096; Selected Messages, book 1, p 241; Testimonies to Ministers, p 92; Messages to Young People, p 35; Desire of Ages, p 439). This truth teaches us that the law of God is still binding upon the Christian today, and Christ's keeping of it does not free us from having to keep it also (Testimonies to Ministers, p 94; Sons and Daughters of God, p 240; Testimonies to Ministers, p 131; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1073). It also teaches us that perfection is not instantaneous (Sanctified Life, p 10, 92; Messages to Young People, p 114; Testimonies, vol 3, p 325; vol 8, p 312-313; vol 1, p 340; vol 2, p 472; Acts of Apostles, p 560-561; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 947; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 65-66; Selected Messages, book 1, p 317), but is progressive throughout our lifetime as we strive to advance upward on the straight and narrow pathway to heaven (Acts of Apostles, p 533, 560-561; Testimonies, vol 2, p 170, 408-409, 479; Messages to Young People, p 73, 144-145; Selected Messages, book 1, p 28; Fundamentals of Christian Education, p 218; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 315; Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1085; Testimonies to Ministers, p 150). This shows us that while we are on the earth, no one is yet saved, or even should say or feel that they are saved, until they actually make it into heaven (Selected Messages, book 1, p 314; book 3, p 354). Christ's robe of righteousness will not cover any unrighteousness nor even a single unconfessed sin, because no one can find salvation in Jesus while knowingly continuing to live in sin (Faith I Live By, p 113; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 312; Review and Herald, vol 2, p 232; Signs of the Times, vol 2, p 307; vol 3, p 363; Selected Messages, book 1, p 396; Lift Him Up, p 150; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1072; Desire of Ages, p 555-556).
-- The Seventh-day or Saturday is the only Lord's day of worship as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3; Revelation 1:10; Testimonies, vol 6, p 128). It is the sign or seal of God between Him and His people (Ezekiel 20:12, 20), and there is no biblical truth supporting a change to Sunday as the Lord's day (Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:3-11; Ezekiel 20:12-20; 1 Chronicles 17:27). This means that we must keep the Sabbath holy in obedience to God if we would see heaven (Early Writings, p 37; Desire of Ages, p 206; Testimonies, vol 8, p 196-198; Great Controversy, p 455; Testimonies, vol 6, p 349; Prophets and Kings, p 182; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 949; Testimonies, vol 3, p 392; Evangelism, p 290; Testimonies, vol 1, p 532; vol 2, p 705; Life Sketches, p 117-118).
2) What does the SDA church believe about the Beast being Roman Catholicism?
The SDA church does not refer to the Beast as being Roman Catholicism, but vaguely refers to it as being:
-- "the false lord" (Adventist Review, December 31, 1992, p 10),
-- representing "the forces that oppose God's last day people" (Adventist Review, May 5, 1994, p 18).
-- "The Beast represents a form of self-worship..." (The Return of Elijah, p 72).
3) What does the SDA church of today believe about the Eucharist being blasphemous and heaven-insulting?
"The purpose of this essay is primarily to show how Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the eucharist or the Lord's supper...[and] to highlight Adventist understanding and practice of the eucharist...
"In preparation for the celebration of the eucharist Seventh-day Adventists practice the washing of feet..." Churches Respond to Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 341-
343, 1985. (This is the SDA churchs' official response to the ecumenical meeting they were a part of at the Faith and Order Conference of the World Council of Churches of January, 1982 in Lima, Peru).
The Eucharist is also called by the SDA church as being the "central celebration of the Christian church" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 341). The church also states; "On occasion Seventh-day Adventists refer to the eucharist as a sacrament" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 342). They also state that SDA's are "conscious of the sacredness of the celebration of the eucharist" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 342).
"And we could go on if space permitted--to mention the WCC's... accentuation of the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. All of these emphases fit into the ambit of the three angels' messages." Adventist Review, May 2, 1991, p 10.
4) What does the SDA church teach today about the Pope being Anti-christ?
"...if he was taught that the Pope is the anti-christ, I think that would be a misunderstanding. I don't feel that's what we as a church believe....
"...[the anti-christ], that's not a person. That's not an individual..." Kenneth Cox, representating the SDA church on WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.
5) What about the Catholic system as Anti-christ?
The anti-christ is not referred to as "the papacy," because the Catholic church has "defended belief in Christ's fleshly nature" (Adventist Review, October 27, 1983, p 7). But the Anti-christ is referred to as being:
-- "former christians" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 25).
-- "a mind-set" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 26).
-- those who teach "false doctrine qualify" (Adventist Review, October 27, 1983, p 7).
-- those who "draw us away from our commitment to Christ" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 26).
-- those who "deny that Jesus is the Christ or the Messiah" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 25). [Hence even the Devil and all his evil angels cannot be anti-christ either (Matthew 8:29, Mark 1;24, Luke 4:34)!]
6) What does the SDA church teach about our God-given duty to warn others against the Beast or Catholicism?
"Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint...that attitude on the church's part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist church is concerned." Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (US Government) vs Pacif Press Publishing Association (SDA Church), Civ #74-2025 CBR, Reply Brief for Defendants, p 4.
"...our work is not to denounce the Roman Catholic Church." Pacific Union Recorder, February 18, 1985, p 4.
7) What about the Lamb-like Beast being the United States?
The SDA church does not refer to the Lamb-like Beast as being the USA, but vaguely refers to it as being:
-- "an idol-making power" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 10).
-- "the antispirit" (Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 22-23).
8) What about the Image of the Beast being the Protestant Churches which image Catholicism, including the World Council of Churches?
The Image of the Beast is not referred to by the SDA church of today as being apostate Protestantism, but is vaguely referred to as being:
-- an idol or an image we worship "rather than the Creator-God" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 9).
-- setting "yourself up against the Lord of heaven...this type of idol" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 10).
"...the Image to the Beast is enforcing a religious duty by human power....The combination of belief in God...and trying to obey through your own efforts, is the Image of the Beast." The Return of Elijah, p 77.
9) What does the church now believe about the Image of the Beast being formed when all the churches unite, and the State sustains them and enforces their decrees?
"If he [Lamb-like beast or the antispirit] cannot lead us to outright disobedience (which gives us a mark in the forehead), then he leads us to adopt a token (or surface) obedience (which qualifies us for the mark in the hand).
"This is how the antispirit makes an image to the beast. Surface obedience, not rooted in love, will eventually produce a character like that of the beast." Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 23.
10) What about the warning against the Image--or the Protestant churches, including the World Council of Churches?
The SDA church does not warn against the apostate Protestant churches or the WCC, because they are united with, members of, and are one of them!
In 1973 the SDA church, in union with the WCC, wrote a book titled So Much In Common. George Vandeman also wrote a book praising the apostate churches titled What I Like About...The Lutherans, The Baptists, The Methodists, The Charismatics, The Catholics, Our Jewish Friends, The Adventists; Rescuers of Neglected Truth, PPPA, 1986.
The SDA church is not separate from Babylon, but is fully united with them.
"...we love one another [Christians of other denominations], and work together. That's what its all about....That's what we [SDA church] are here for--is to profit from one another [other denominations]." Kenneth Cox, WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.
The SDA church is also part of the National Council of Churches and the WCC (visit our website to read the Booklet "The WCC & the SDA Church" which contains the documents proving this)! But this next church statement should help Adventists to realize that this is true:
"Adventist Find Friends At The World Council of Churches." Canadian Union Messenger, September, 1983, p 5.
11) What does the SDA church teach about the Mark of the Beast being Sunday worship and that it is given after it becomes enforced by law?
"The Mark of the Beast principle is that man can...do something that will get him to heaven and make him acceptable to God." Marked, p 88.
"The Mark of the Beast involves...salvation by works." The Return of Elijah, p 73.
"...the Mark of the Beast, which is salvation by works of self-righteousness." Marked, p 38.
The SDA church amazingly teaches that the Mark of the Beast is not Sunday worship, but refers to Sabbath worship!
"...the Sabbath...[is] God's sign of obedience....But we must beware! Anyone whose focus is on the Sabbath...who looks at his Sabbathkeeping as the ground of his salvation...is a candidate for the mark of the beast." Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 26.
12) What about the truth of Religious Liberty being our God-given right to study for ourselves, to stand by what we are convicted is the truth, to personally proclaim only God’s truth, and also to expose error in seeking to set people free from it? What position does the SDA church of today take regarding this fundamental truth which gave rise to the great Reformation of Protestantism, the Great Advent Movement, as well as to the birth of the SDA church itself?
"Included in such discussions have been related theological concepts such as the nature of Christ, the nature of man, the nature of sin, perfection, and the question as to whether it is possible for a Christian to live a sinless life. In our judgment these complex theological and biblical issues need not be settled in detail in order to rejoice in the gracious provision of salvation through faith in Christ...We are requesting that we refrain from involving ourselves in public presentations of the fine points and the controversial aspects of the theology of righteousness by faith....
"We should all seek to diminish the flood of cassettes, brochures, books, and miscellaneous documents...This ended the discussion because the voice of the highest authority had spoken." Adventist Review, May 24, 1979, p 4-5.
"It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide by the decisions of the church..." Adult Sabbath School Quarterly, Lesson 13, March 28, 1987, p 92.
"Leadership will lead in love and understanding, and followership will support the church leadership unfailingly, even though necessarily critical of some decisions of leadership." Adventist Review, October 25, 1979, p 14.
"...the position of the majority group of sane leadership which is determined to put the brakes on any [SDA] members who seek to hold views divergent from that of the responsible leadership of the denomination." Eternity magazine, September, 1957, quoting the stated positions of SDA church leaders; article titled "Are Seventh Day Adventist Christians?"
Putting the breaks on any SDA members includes disfellowshipping any who become too vocal in preaching the truth and exposing errors of the church. Such as M.L. Andreasen, back in the 1950's because he was alerting SDA’s to the new doctrinal positions which their church was taking so that they could be more in common with the Evangelicals; and many others in the decades of the 1960's, 70's, 80's, etc., – including the disfellowshippment of about 1300 SDA’s for openly protesting the SDA church’s membership in the World Council of Churches through the Hungarian Council of Free Churches.
13) What does the SDA church now teach about obeying the civil authorities in bowing to the Sunday law, or any other law that conflicts with God’s commandments?
"Ellen White...[writing about the Sunday laws] told the people do not go contrary to civil authority." Kenneth Cox, WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.