It would make perfect sense to just say Babylon is fallen. So why is it written twice?
I heard a pastor of our faith say that the first Fallen refers to the papacy and the 2nd refers to the false prophet or apostate evangelical churches. But he did not say where he got that information? Is this true?
Or is the repeated phrase due to the fact that the message is to be given AGAIN????
The original "Babylon is fallen, is fallen" is in Isaiah 21:9.
The SDA Bible Commentary says that it's possible that the second "is fallen" should be omitted in Revelation 14:8.
Beyond this, there are quotes like the one below, that say that the fall of Babylon is progressive, and thus occurs in stages.
It's not clear whether the repetition in Revelation 14:8 is intended to capture the progressive nature of the fall.
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The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord, Satan will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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. {GC 389.3}
We know that this applied to the churches that rejected Willliam Miller's message about Jesus returning in 1843/1844.
From 1858 Great Controversy book:
CHAPTER 24 The Second Angel's Message
The churches would not receive the light of the first angel's message, and as they rejected the light from heaven they fell from the favor of God. They trusted in their own strength, and placed themselves by their opposition to the first message where they could not see the light of the second angel's message. But the beloved of God, who were oppressed, answered to the message, Babylon is fallen, and left the fallen churches.
Of course "The Other Angel", (also called "The Revelation 18 Angel") gives this same message. So these are the 2 times this message is given, but why each time is "is fallen" given twice? Does that mean there are 4 times this message about Babylon being fallen is given?
