Chapter 12: The Loud Cry





What is God's last warning message to be given to the world?
          Revelation 18: 1-5 -- "This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement
      of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is
      to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been
      entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was
      first given, in the summer of 1844" (GC 603 [see also EW 277]).
          "As foretold in the eighteenth of Revelation, the third angel's message is to be
      proclaimed with great power by those who give the final warning against the beast 
      and his image" (8T 118).
          "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" (GC 390).
          "These announcements, uniting with the third angel's message, constitute the
      final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth" (ibid. 604).
          
Is this the same message we have been preaching since 1844,
or is it a distinct call?
          "When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the Temple from its
      sacrilegious profanation.  Among the last acts of His ministry was the second
      cleansing of the Temple.  So in the last work for the warning of the world,
      two distinct calls are made to the churches.  The second angel's message is 
      'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations
      drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication' (Rev. 14: 8).  And in the 
      loud cry of the third angel's message a voice is heard 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 hath
      remembered her iniquities' (Rev. 18: 4, 5)" (2SM 118 [7BC 985; see also EW 277]).
          
What is the very heart of the three angels' messages?
          Revelation 14: 6 -- "Several have written to me, inquiring if the
      message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have 
      answered, 'It is the third angel's message in verity'" (Ev 190 [1SM 372]).
          "The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the 
      earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord.  This is the glory of God,
      which closes the work of the third angel" (6T 19).
          "The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people 
      through Elders Waggoner and Jones.  This message was to bring more prominently
      before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole
      world.  It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited 
      the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest
      in obedience to all the commandments of God.  Many had lost sight of Jesus.
      They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and
      His changeless love for the human family.  All power is given into His hands,
      that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His
      own righteousness to the helpless human agent.  This is the message that God 
      commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is
      to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His
      Spirit in a large measure" (TM 91, 92).
          "The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of His
      character of love.  The children of God are to manifest His glory.  In their 
      own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for
      them" (COL 415, 416).

Why is this message said to be given with a "strong voice" or "loud cry"?
          Revelation 18: 2 -- "It is represented as being given with a loud voice;
      that is, with the power of the Holy Spirit" (7BC 980).

What makes the loud cry possible?  Whence its compelling power?
          Zechariah 4: 6 -- "The 'latter rain,' or refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
       will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare
       the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out" (EW 86).
          "I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power.  It had
       effect...I asked what had made this great change.  An angel answered, 'It is the latter
       rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel'" 
       (EW 271).

To whom is the loud cry particularly directed?
          "In the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to 
       come out of Babylon.  According to this scripture, many of God's people must still be in
       Babylon.  And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ 
       now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant
       faith" (GC 383).
          "It is true that there are real Christians in the Roman Catholic communion.  Thousands
       in that church are serving God according to the best light they have...Many will yet take
       their position with His people" (ibid. 565).
          "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" (ibid. 390).

What will Satan introduce into the popular churches
before Revelation 18: 1 is fulfilled?
          "The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time
       for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a
       counterfeit.  In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he
       will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be 
       manifest what is thought to be great religious interest.  Multitudes will exult
       that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit.
       Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the 
       Christian world" (ibid. 464).

How can we differentiate between Satan's false 
revival and the loud cry?
          "There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the 
       false, that is well adapted to mislead.  Yet none need be deceived.  In the light
       of God's Word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements.  
       Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, 
       soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, 
       there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed.  And by the rule 
       which Christ Himself has given, 'Ye shall know them by their fruits' (Matt.
       7: 16), it is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit 
       of God" (GC 464, 465).

Do we know exactly when the latter rain will fall and the angel of
Revelation 18 will come down from heaven?
          "I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the
       Holy Spirit will take place--when the mighty angel will come down from heaven,
       and unite with the third angel in closing up the work for this world; my message
       is that our only safety is in being ready for the heavenly refreshing" (7BC 984).