the money is to go to a good object； it is not strange that the youth of the
state should so often fall into the habits which the excitement of games of
hazard is almost certain to engender。〃
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The spirit of worldly conformity in invading the churches throughout
Christendom。 Robert Atkins； in a sermon preached in London； draws a dark
picture of the spiritual declension that prevails in England： 〃The truly
righteous are diminished from the earth； and no man layeth it to heart。 The
professors of religion of the present day； in every church； are lovers of
the world； conformers to the world； lovers of creature comfort； and aspirers
after respectability。 They are called to suffer with Christ； but they shrink
from even reproach。。。。 Apostasy； apostasy； apostasy； is engraven on the very
front of every church； and did they know it； and did they feel it； there
might be hope； but； alas！ they cry； 'We are rich； and increased in goods；
and stand in need of nothing。'〃 Second Advent Library； tract No。 39。
The great sin charged against Babylon is that she 〃made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication。〃 This cup of intoxication which
she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has
accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the
earth。 Friendship with the world corrupts her faith； and in her turn she
exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are
opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ。
Rome withheld the Bible from the people and required all men to accept her
teachings in its place。 It was the work of the Reformation to restore to men
the word of God； but is it not too true that in the churches of our time men
are taught to rest their faith upon their creed and the teachings of their
church rather than on the Scriptures？ Said Charles Beecher； speaking of the
Protestant churches： 〃They shrink from any rude word against creeds with the
same sensitiveness with which those holy fathers would have shrunk from a
rude word against the rising veneration of saints and martyrs which they
were fostering。 。 。 。 The Protestant evangelical denominations have so tied
up one another's hands； and their own； that； between them all； a man cannot
become a preacher at all； anywhere； without accepting some book besides the
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Bible。。。。 There is nothing imaginary in the statement that the creed power
is now beginning to prohibit the Bible as really as Rome did； though in a
subtler way。〃Sermon on 〃The Bible a Sufficient Creed；〃 delivered at Fort
Wayne； Indiana； Feb。 22； 1846。
When faithful teachers expound the word of God； there arise men of learning；
ministers professing to understand the Scriptures； who denounce sound
doctrine as heresy； and thus turn away inquirers after truth。 Were it not
that the world is hopelessly intoxicated with the wine of Babylon；
multitudes would be convicted and converted by the plain； cutting truths of
the word of God。 But religious faith appears so confused and discordant that
the people know not what to believe as truth。 The sin of the world's
impenitence lies at the door of the church。
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。 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。
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord； Satan will work 〃with
all power and signs and lying wonders；
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and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness；〃 and they that 〃received not
the love of the truth； that they might be saved；〃 will be left to receive
〃strong delusion； that they should believe a lie。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9…11。
Not until this condition shall be reached； and the union of the church with
the world shall be fully accomplished throughout Christendom； will the fall
of Babylon be complete。 The change is a progressive one； and the perfect
fulfillment of Revelation 14：8 is yet future。
Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in
the churches which constitute Babylon； the great body of Christ's true
followers are still to be found in their communion。 There are many of these
who have never seen the special truths for this time。 Not a few are
dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light。
They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they
are connected。 As these bodies depart further and further from the truth；
and ally themselves more closely with the world； the difference between the
two classes will widen； and it will finally result in separation。 The time
will come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in
connection with such as are 〃lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God；
having a form of godliness； but denying the power thereof。〃
Revelation 18 points to the time when； as the result of rejecting the
threefold warning of Revelation 14：6…12； the church will have fully reached
the condition foretold by the second angel； and the people of God still in
Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion。 This message is
the last that will ever be given to the world； and it will accomplish its
work。 When those that 〃believed not the truth； but had pleasure in
unrighteousness〃 （2 Thessalonians 2：12）； shall be left to receive strong
delusion and to believe a lie； then the light of truth will shine upon all
whose hearts are open to receive it； and all the children of the Lord that
remain in Babylon will heed the call： 〃Come out of her； My people〃
（Revelation 18：4）。
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Chapter 22
Prophecies Fulfilled
When the time passed at which the Lord's coming was first expected；in the
spring of 1844；those who had looked in faith for His appearing were for a
season involved in doubt and uncertainty。 While the world regarded them as
having been utterly defeated and proved to have been cherishing a delusion；
their source of consolation was still the word of God。 Many continued to
search the Scriptures； examining anew the evidences of their faith and
carefully studying the prophecies to obtain further light。 The Bible
testimony in support of their position seemed clear and conclusive。 Signs
which could not be mistaken pointed to the coming of Christ as near。 The
special blessing of the Lord； both in the conversion of sinners and the
revival of spiritual life among Christians； had testified that the message
was of Heaven。 And though the believers could not explain their
disappointment； they felt assured that God had led them in their past
experience。
Interwoven with prophecies which they had regarded as applying to the time
of the second advent was instruction specially adapted to their state of
uncertainty and suspense； and encouraging them to wait patiently in the
faith that what was now dark to their understanding would in due time be
made plain。
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Among these prophecies was that of Habakkuk 2：1…4： 〃I will stand upon my
watch； and set me upon the tower； and will watch to see what He will say
unto me； and what I shall answer when I am reproved。 And the Lord answered
me； and said； Write the vision； and make it plain upon tables； that he may
run that readeth it。 For the vision is yet for an appointed time； but at the
end it shall speak； and not lie： though it tarry； wait for it； because it
will surely come； it will not tarry。 Behold； his soul which is lifted up is
not upright in him： but the just shall live by his faith。〃
As early as 1842 the direction given in this prophecy to 〃write the vision；
and make it plain upon tables； that he may run that readeth it；〃 had
suggested to Charles Fitch the preparation of a prophetic chart to
illustrate the visions of Daniel and the Revelation。 The publication of this
chart was regarded as a fulfillment of the command given by Habakkuk。 No
one； however； then noticed than an apparent delay in the accomplishment of
the visiona tarrying timeis presented in the sam