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is fearfully deep； so the religious press of the whole land testifies。 。 。 。
Very extensively； church members are becoming devotees of fashion； join
hands with the ungodly in parties of pleasure； in dancing； in festivities；
etc。 。 。 。 But we need not expand this painful subject。 Suffice it that the
evidence thickens and rolls heavily upon us； to show that the churches
generally are becoming sadly degenerate。 They have gone very far from the
Lord； and He has withdrawn Himself from them。〃
And a writer in the Religious Telescope testified： 〃We have never witnessed
such a general declension of religion as at the present。 Truly； the church
should awake； and search into the cause of this affliction； for as an
affliction everyone that loves Zion must view it。 When we call to mind how
'few and far between' cases of true conversion are； and the almost
unparalleled impertinence and hardness of sinners； we almost involuntarily
exclaim； 'Has God forgotten to be gracious？ or； Is the door of mercy
closed？'〃
Such a condition never exists without cause in the church itself。 The
spiritual darkness which falls upon nations； upon churches and individuals；
is due； not to an arbitrary withdrawal of the succors of divine grace on the
part of God； but to neglect or rejection of divine light on the part of men。
A
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striking illustration of this truth is presented in the history of the
Jewish people in the time of Christ。 By their devotion to the world and
forgetfulness of God and His word； their understanding had become darkened；
their hearts earthly and sensual。 Thus they were in ignorance concerning
Messiah's advent； and in their pride and unbelief they rejected the
Redeemer。 God did not even then cut off the Jewish nation from a knowledge
of； or a participation in； the blessings of salvation。 But those who
rejected the truth lost all desire for the gift of Heaven。 They had 〃put
darkness for light； and light for darkness；〃 until the light which was in
them became darkness； and how great was that darkness！
It suits the policy of Satan that men should retain the forms of religion if
but the spirit of vital godliness is lacking。 After their rejection of the
gospel； the Jews continued zealously to maintain their ancient rites； they
rigorously preserved their national exclusiveness； while they themselves
could not but admit that the presence of God was no longer manifest among
them。 The prophecy of Daniel pointed so unmistakably to the time of
Messiah's coming； and so directly foretold His death； that they discouraged
its study； and finally the rabbis pronounced a curse on all who should
attempt a computation of the time。 In blindness and impenitence the people
of Israel during succeeding centuries have stood； indifferent to the
gracious offers of salvation； unmindful of the blessings of the gospel； a
solemn and fearful warning of the danger of rejecting light from heaven。
Wherever the cause exists； the same results will follow。 He who deliberately
stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with his inclinations
will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth and error。 The
understanding becomes darkened； the conscience callous； the heart hardened；
and the soul is separated from God。 Where the message of divine truth is
spurned or slighted； there the church will be enshrouded in darkness； faith
and love grow cold；
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and estrangement and dissension enter。 Church members center their interests
and energies in worldly pursuits； and sinners become hardened in their
impenitence。
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。 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。〃 Acts 4：32； 31；
2：47。
If God's professed people would receive the light as it shines upon them
from His word； they would reach that unity for which Christ prayed； that
which the apostle describes； 〃the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace。〃
〃There is；〃 he says； 〃one body； and one Spirit； even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling； one Lord； one faith； one baptism。〃 Ephesians 4：3…5。
Such were the blessed results experienced by those who accepted the advent
message。 They came from different denominations； and their denominational
barriers were hurled to the ground； conflicting creeds were shivered to
atoms； the unscriptural hope of a temporal millennium was abandoned； false
views of the second advent were corrected； pride and conformity to the world
were swept away； wrongs were made right； hearts were united in the sweetest
fellowship； and love and joy reigned supreme。 If this doctrine did this
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for the few who did receive it； it would have done the same for all if all
had received it。
But the churches generally did not accept the warning。 Their ministers； who；
as watchmen 〃unto the house of Israel；〃 should have been the first to
discern the tokens of Jesus' coming； had failed to learn the truth either
from the testimony of the prophets or from the signs of the times。 As
worldly hopes and ambitions filled the heart； love for God and faith in His
word had grown cold； and when the advent doctrine was presented； it only
aroused their prejudice and unbelief。 The fact that the message was； to a
great extent； preached by laymen； was urged as an instrument against it。 As
of old； the plain testimony of God's word was met with the inquiry： 〃Have
any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed？〃 And finding how difficult a
task it was to refute the arguments drawn from the prophetic periods； many
discouraged the study of the prophecies； teaching that the prophetic books
were sealed and were not to be understood。 Multitudes； trusting implicitly
to their pastors； refused to listen to the warning； and others； though
convinced of the truth； dared not confess it； lest they should be 〃put out
of the synagogue。〃 The message which God had sent for the testing and
purification of the church revealed all too surely how great was the number
who had set their affections on this world rather than upon Christ。 The ties
which bound them to earth were stronger than the attractions heavenward。
They chose to listen to the voice of worldly wisdom and turned away from the
heart…searching message of truth。
In refusing the warning of the first angel； they rejected the means which
Heaven had provided for their restoration。 They spurned the gracious
messenger that would have corrected the evils which separated them from God；
and with greater eagerness they turned to seek the friendship of the world。
Here was the cause of that fearful condition of worldliness； backsliding；
and spiritual death which existed in the churches in 1844。
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In Revelation 14 the first angel is followed by a second proclaiming：
〃Babylon is fallen； is fallen； that great city； because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication。〃 Revelation 14：8。 The
term 〃Babylon〃 is derived from 〃Babel；〃 and signifies confusion。 It is
employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate
religion。 In Revelation 17 Babylon is represented as a woman a figure
which is used in the Bible as the symbol of a church； a virtuous woman
representing a pure church； a vile woman