Is Martin Luther the second angel of Revelation 14:8?
The "Iglesia Ni Cristo" teaches that the "second angel" of Revelation 14:8 was Martin Luther.[1] The idea being that because he declared the Roman Catholic church to be false, he is the one declaring that Babylon has fallen. Is Revelation 14:8 really speaking of Martin Luther?
Revelation 14:8 (ESV) - 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality."
Rather than take a position on the correct understanding of this prophecy, the purpose of this article is to show that the INC's position proves them false regardless of the correct understanding.
If the angel is not Martin Luther, the INC is proven false.
Obviously, if the angel does not represent Martin Luther, the INC has an incorrect position on this verse. The INC cannot afford to be wrong in their understanding of this passage since the INC administration claims they have special status as messengers of God. Given such a claim, they cannot officially teach any falsehood or else they forfeit their foundational claim. If the INC is wrong about Revelation 14:8, then they cannot be the true church.
If the angel is Martin Luther, the INC is proven false.
Here is the more interesting scenario. Let us say, for the sake of argument, that the INC is correct and Martin Luther is the second angel of Revelation 14:8. This would make Martin Luther a messenger sent from God. Does Martin Luther's message as a true messenger of God align with the INC's message?
It did not! Luther taught justification through faith alone and not of works!
Now the true Gospel has it that we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the Law. The false gospel has it that we are justified by faith, but not without the deeds of the Law. The false apostles preached a conditional gospel.
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All who say that faith alone in Christ does not justify a person, convert Christ into a minister of sin, a teacher of the Law, and a cruel tyrant who requires the impossible. All merit-seekers take Christ for a new lawgiver.
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We have enough arguments right here to conclude that justification is by faith alone. How can the Law effect our justification, when Paul so plainly states that we must be dead to the Law if we want to live unto God? If we are dead to the Law and the Law is dead to us, how can it possibly contribute anything to our justification? There is nothing left for us but to be justified by faith alone.[2]
From the INC's perspective, how can Martin Luther be a messenger of God if he calls the INC's teachings a false gospel? If the INC calls him a messenger of God, they call themselves false!
Conclusion
The INC proves itself false, regardless of whether or not they are correct in their understanding of Revelation 14:8. If Martin Luther is not the second angel, the INC does not have the authority to teach the Bible with clarity as they claim. If Martin Luther is the second angel, then as a messenger of God, he teaches us that the INC has a false gospel.
[1] See "The Only True Church of Christ", Pasugo Oct 2013 vol 65 num 10
[2] Luther, Commentary on Galatians