The Last ReformationSmith, F. G. (Frederick George)
Religion
The Last Reformation
Smith, F. G. (Frederick George)
Church -- Biblical teaching; Mission of the church
The description of the two forms of the apostasy, Papal and
Protestant, given in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, was
conveyed under the symbols of two beasts, differing in external
appearance, but in certain respects similar in character. Immediately
following that representation there is, as we have already shown, a
description of a distinct reformatory work set forth by the 144,000
with the Lamb on Mount Zion, the fall of Babylon, and the promulgation
of the everlasting gospel in all the world. The term "Babylon" as used
in that scripture is applied to both the worshipers of the beast and
the worshipers of the image of the beast (made by the second beast);
therefore it embraces both forms of the apostasy.
We have just seen that the description of Babylon, given in Revelation
17 under the symbols of a corrupt woman and her harlot daughters,
represent the papal church and the divisions of Protestantism. We
shall now proceed to show that the two lines of prophecy (chaps. 13
and 17) are parallel chronologically, for they both end at the same
time and in the same manner.
[Sidenote: The last reformation]
As the first of these two series of prophecy ended with the fall of
Babylon and the deliverance therefrom of a people who were with the
Lamb, not wandering after the beast, and who had "the Father's name
written in their foreheads," not the name or the mark of the beast,
so also the second series ends in the same manner. After describing
Babylon under its twofold form, mother and daughters, the Revelator
says: "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" (chap. 18:1-4).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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