Revelation 14– The Three Angels Messages
Revelation 14 talks about the three angels messages and the
warnings of what’s to come in Bible prophecy in
Revelation Chapters 13, 17, and 18.
1. Why are we studying
Revelation? Isn't it sealed?
There are six crucial reasons to study Revelation that I
think you must think about and keep in mind.
A. It never has been sealed (Revelation 22:10). The age long controversy between Christ
and Satan, plus the devil's strategies and last-day devious plans, are exposed
in Revelation. Satan cannot easily trap people who are aware of his lying
deceptions in advance, so he hopes people will believe that Revelation is
sealed.
B. The very name "Revelation" means "unveiling,"
"opening," or "revealing" the complete opposite of
being sealed. It always has been wide open.
C. Revelation is Jesus book in a unique way. It begins, "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ." It even gives a word picture of Him
in Revelation 1:13-16. No other book of the Bible reveals Jesus and His
last-day instructions and plans for His work and His people as does Revelation.
D. Revelation is primarily written for and geared to the people of our
day, just before Jesus' return (Revelation
1:1-3 3:11 22:6, 7, 12, 20).
E. A special blessing is pronounced upon those who read Revelation and
heed its counsel (Revelation 1:3 ,22:7).
F. Revelation describes God's end-time people and church with startling
clarity. It makes the Bible come to life when you see the last-day events
depicted in Revelation taking place. It also tells precisely what God's church
must be preaching in the last days (Revelation 14:6-14).
2. God
commissioned His church to take the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). How
does He symbolize this sacred work in Revelation?
"And I saw another
angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach. ...
And there followed another angel, saying ... . And the third angel followed
them, saying ... . " Revelation 14:6-9.
The word "angel"
literally means "messenger," so it is fitting that God uses three
angels to symbolize the preaching of His three-point gospel message for the
last days. God uses the symbolism of angels to remind us that supernatural
power will accompany
the messages.
3. What two crucial points does Revelation
14:6 reveal about God's message for the last days?
"And I saw another
angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people."Revelation 14:6.
The two crucial points
are: (1) that it is "the everlasting gospel," and (2) that it must be
preached to every person on earth. The three angels' messages stress the
gospel, which makes it plain that people are saved by faith in -and acceptance
of- Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12 Mark 10:26, 27). Since no other way to
salvation exists, it is evil to claim that there is some other way.
Satan's Counterfeits
Satan's counterfeits, while many, include two very effective ones:
1. Salvation by works alone.
2. Salvation in sin or doing sin.
These two counterfeits are
uncovered and revealed in the three angels' messages. Many, without realizing
it, have embraced one of these two errors and are trying to build their
salvation upon it - an utterly impossible feat. We also must stress that no one
is truly preaching the gospel of Jesus for the end time who does not include
the three angels' messages.
4. What four distinctive points does the first angel's message
cover?
"Saying with
a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is
come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters."Revelation 14:7.
A. Fear God. This means we should revere God and look upon
Him with love, trust, and respect - eager to do His bidding. This keeps us from
evil. "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." Proverbs
16:6. Solomon, the wise man, also said,
"Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man." Ecclesiastes 12:13.
B. Give glory to
God. We fulfill this command when we obey, praise, and thank God for His
goodness to us. One of the major sins of the last days is un-thankfulness (2
Timothy 3:1, 2).
C. The hour of His judgment is come. This indicates that everyone
is accountable to God, and it is a clear statement that the judgment is now in
session. A number of translations say "has" come instead of
"is" come.
D. Worship the Creator. This command rejects idolatry of all kinds
-including self-worship- and totally repudiates evolution, which denies that
God is Creator and Redeemer. (Many books and radio talk shows today over stress
self-worth, which leads to self-worship. A Christian's self-worth is in Christ,
who makes His children sons and daughters of the King of heaven.)
The gospel includes the creation and redemption of the world by the Lord God of
heaven. Worshiping the Creator includes worshiping Him on the day He set aside
as a memorial of Creation (the seventh-day Sabbath). That the reference
in Revelation 14:7 is to the Sabbath is made clear by the fact that
the words "made heaven, and earth, and the sea" were lifted right out
of the Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:11) and used here. Our true roots are
found in God alone, who made us in His image in the beginning. Those who do not
worship God as Creator, no matter what else they may worship, may never
discover their real roots.
5. What solemn statement does
the second angel make about Babylon? What does the angel of Revelation 18
command God's people to do?
"And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen."Revelation 14:8.
"I saw another angel come down from heaven. ... And he cried mightily with
a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen. ... And I heard another
voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people." Revelation
18:1-4.
The second
angel solemnly states that "Babylon is fallen," and the voice from
heaven urges all of God's people to come out of Babylon at once. Unless you
know what Babylon is, you could easily end up in it. Think about it. Could you
possibly be in Babylon now?
6. Against what does the third angel's message solemnly warn?
"And the third angel
followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God." Revelation 14:9-10. The third
angel's message warns people against worshiping the beast and his image and
receiving the mark of the beast in their foreheads or hands. The first angel
commands true worship. The third angel tells of the awesome consequences
connected with false worship. Do you know for certain who the beast is? And
what is his mark? Unless you know positively who the beast is and what his mark
is, you may end up worshiping him without realizing it.
7. What four-point description does God give in Revelation 14:12
of His people who accept and follow the three angels' messages?
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they
that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus." Revelation 14:12.
A. They are patient, persevering, and faithful
to the end, a big order for a "do it now" generation. God's
people reveal Him by their patient, loving conduct.
B. They are saints, or holy ones, because they are
fully on God's side.
C. They keep the commandments of God. These people of
God happily obey His Ten Commandments and all other commandments He has given
them. Their first aim is to please Him, whom they love (1 John 3:22).
D. They have the faith of Jesus. This also can be translated "faith
in Jesus." In either case, God's people fully follow Jesus and fully trust
Him.
8. What happens immediately following the teaching of the three
angels' messages to all people?
"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon
the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden
crown."
Revelation 14:14.
Immediately after the teaching of the three angels'
messages to every person, Jesus will return in the clouds (His second advent)
to take His people to their heavenly home.
9. In 2 Peter 1:12, the apostle
speaks of "present truth." What does he mean?
Present truth is an aspect of the everlasting gospel that
has particular urgency for a certain time. Examples are listed below:
A. Noah's message of the Flood (Genesis 6 and 7 2 Peter 2:5). Noah was
a preacher of righteousness. He taught God's love as he warned of a coming flood
that would destroy the world. The Flood message was "present truth"
for that time. Its urgent cry was "get into the boat." And it was so
important that it would have been immoral not to preach it.
B. Jonah's message to Nineveh (Jonah 3:4). Jonah's "present truth" was that Nineveh
would be destroyed in 40 days. Jonah also uplifted the Saviour, and the city
repented. To omit, however, the 40-day warning would have been unfaithful and
unforgivable. It was present truth. It fitted that time in a special way.
C. John the Baptist's message (Matthew 3:1-3 Luke 1:17). John's "present truth" was that
Jesus, the Messiah, was about to appear. His work was to present the gospel and
prepare people for Jesus' first coming. To have omitted that first-coming
element of the gospel for his day would have been unthinkable.
D. The three angels' messages (Revelation 14:6-14). God's "present truth" for today
is contained in the three angels' messages. Of course, salvation through Jesus
Christ alone is central to these messages. However, the "present
truth" of the three angels also has been given to prepare people for
Jesus' second coming and to open their eyes to Satan's brilliant and highly
convincing deceptions. Unless people understand these messages, Satan will
indeed capture and destroy them. Jesus knew we needed these three special
messages, so in loving kindness He has given them.
10. Who does the Bible say will come to give a "present
truth" message before the great day of the Lord?
"Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord." Malachi 4:5. Elijah the prophet. There is something
significant about Elijah and his message, as we shall see in the next few
questions I post.
11. What did Elijah do that caused
the Lord to focus on him?
Note: Please open your Bible and
carefully read 1 Kings 18:17-40 before answering this question.
Elijah
urged the people to make up their minds whom they would serve (verse 21). The
nation was almost wholly idolatrous. The people had forsaken the true God and
His commandments. There was one prophet of God, Elijah, and 450 heathen
prophets of Baal (verse 22). Elijah suggested that both he and the idolaters
build altars and place wood and a bull on them. He then suggested they ask the
true God to reveal Himself by setting fire to His altar. The heathen god did
not answer, but the true God of Elijah sent fire from heaven and burned up
Elijah's sacrifice.
The Message Demanded a Decision
Elijah's message came at a time of deep spiritual crisis and national apostasy.
It came with such power from heaven above that it stopped "business as
usual" and drew national attention. Elijah then insisted that people
decide whom they would serve, God or Baal. Deeply moved and fully convinced, the
people chose God (verse 39).
12. The Elijah message has a
twofold application. It applies to a "present truth" message to
prepare people for Jesus' first advent and a "present truth" message
to prepare people for Jesus' second advent. Who did Jesus say preached the
Elijah message to prepare people for His first advent?
"There hath
not risen a greater than John the Baptist." "And if ye will receive
it, this is Elias [Elijah], which was for to come."Matthew 11:11, 14. Jesus called John's preaching to prepare
people for His first advent "Elijah," or the Elijah message. John's
message, as in Elijah's day, made truth very clear and then insisted on a
decision. The Bible says of John the Baptist, "He shall go ... in the
spirit and power of Elias [Elijah]." Luke 1:17.
13. How do we know the prophecy
has a second application to our time just before the second advent?
"I will send
you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord."Malachi 4:5.
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31. Please take note that two events will occur
before the coming of "the great and terrible day of the Lord"
mentioned in Joel 2:31.
One, the coming of Elijah. And two, the tremendous signs in the heavens. This
helps us locate both events. The dark day occurred May 19, 1780. That same
night, the moon appeared as blood. Matthew 24:29 includes one more sign, the falling of the
stars, which took place November 13, 1833. From this, we know the end-time
Elijah message must begin some time near or after 1833, before the coming of
the great day of the Lord.
Second Elijah Message After Sky
Signs
It is obvious that John's "Elijah message" does not apply to the
second "Elijah message" because God's great sky signs appeared over
1,700 years after John preached his message. The Elijah message of Joel
2:31 had to begin after those sky signs in 1833 and must prepare people
for Jesus' second advent. The three fold "present truth" message
of Revelation 14:6-14 fits perfectly. It began around 1844 and is preparing
people worldwide for Jesus' second advent (verse 14), which will take place
after the three fold message has reached every person on earth.
Elijah insisted evil be met head-on and that all decide whom they would serve.
So it is with God's threefold message for us today. A decision must be made.
God's threefold message unmasks Satan and his plans. It clearly reveals God's
love and His requirements. God is calling people today back to true worship,
worship of God alone. To knowingly serve and worship anyone or anything else in
this crucial day amounts to disloyalty and will result in eternal death. God
miraculously reached hearts in Elijah's day (1 Kings 18:37, 39)
and in the days of John the Baptist. He will do the same in these last days as
people respond to the three angels' messages (Revelation 18:1).
14. What other wonderful blessing will the preaching of the Elijah
(or the three angels') messages bring?
"Elijah ...
shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children
to their fathers."Malachi 4:5-6”.
Praise God! The Elijah message,
or three angels' messages, will bring family members together in a loving,
close, joyous, heavenly relationship. What a blessed promise!
15. The word "gospel"
means "good news." Do the three angels' messages of Revelation
chapter 14 provide good news?
Yes indeed
it does. Let's review the good news we have found in this overview of the three
angels' messages, I listed below:
A. Every person will have an opportunity to hear and understand
the last-day gospel. Not one will be passed by.
B. The devil's brilliant, powerful plans to trap and
destroy people will be revealed to us, so we need not be ensnared.
C. Heaven's supernatural power will accompany the spreading
of God's message in these last days.
D. God's people will be patient. He calls them
"saints."
E. God's people will have the faith of Jesus.
F. God's people will, out of love, obey His commandments.
G. God loves us so much that He has sent a very special
message to prepare us for Jesus' second coming.
H. God's message for these last days will bring family
members together in love and unity.
I. The major emphasis of the three angels' messages is that
salvation has been provided for everyone through Jesus Christ alone. He gives
His righteousness to cover our past and miraculously imparts His righteousness
to us daily so we will grow in grace and truly become like Him. With Him, we
cannot fail. Without Him, we cannot succeed.
Ok once again here are some thought questions to get your thinking
of this Revelation 12 study we just did.
1. Will
every person on earth be reached with the three angels' messages before Jesus
returns? With billions of people now living, how can this be possible?
Yes, it will happen because God promised it (Mark 16:15). Paul says the gospel
went "to every creature which is under heaven" in his day (Colossians
1:23). Jonah, by God's grace, reached the entire city of Nineveh in less than
40 days (Jonah 3:4-10). The Bible says God will finish the work and cut it
short (Romans 9:28). Count on it. It will happen very quickly and in our day.
2.
Did Moses and Elijah actually appear with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3) or was it only a vision?
The event was literal. The Greek word "horama", translated
"vision" in verse 9, literally means "what had been seen".
Moses was raised from the dead and taken to heaven (Jude 1:9), and Elijah was
later translated without seeing death (2 Kings 2:1, 11, 12).
These two men, who had been on earth and suffered terribly from the onslaughts
of the devil and the rebellion of God's people, understood what Jesus was
passing through. They came to encourage and remind Him of all who would be translated
into His kingdom without seeing death (like Elijah) and raised to life from the
grave to enter His kingdom (like Moses) because of His sacrifice for our sins.
3.
Why did John say he was not Elijah (John 1:19-21) when Jesus said that he was (Matthew
11:10-14)?
Read Luke 1:3-17. The angel who announced John's coming birth said, "Thy
wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ... He
shall be great in the sight of the Lord. ... And he shall go before him in the
spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord." Verses 13-17. When Jesus referred to John as Elijah, He was
referring to his life, spirit, power, and work being like that of Elijah. The
same is true of the Elijah message of these last days. The emphasis is on the
message, not the man. So John was not Elijah in person, but he was presenting
the Elijah message. ("Elias" is the Greek form of "Elijah".)
4.
Is it possible for someone to be preaching Jesus' full end-time truth for today
without including the three angels' messages?
No! The three angels' messages must be included. In the book of Revelation,
Jesus Himself reveals or stipulates His end-time message (Revelation 1:1) and
says clearly that His people must keep on following what He has revealed in the
book (Revelation 1:3, 22:7). So
faithful end-time clergymen must be preaching Jesus' messages from the book of
Revelation. This, of course, includes preaching His special three-point message
of Revelation 14:6-14. Notice that Jesus calls these messages the
"everlasting gospel" in verse 6. He also says they must be taken to
every person on earth before He returns for His people. Here are three solemn
thoughts:
A. No one is truly preaching Jesus'
"everlasting gospel" unless he includes the three angels' messages.
B. No one has the right to call his messages the
everlasting gospel if he omits the three angels' messages.
C. The three angels' messages prepare people for
Jesus' second coming (Revelation 14:12-14). Unless you hear, understand, and
accept Jesus' three-point end-time messages, you may not be prepared for His
second coming.
5. Luke 1:17 says the Elijah message was to turn "the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just". What does this mean?
"The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17. The just have the
wisdom to rest their salvation upon faith in the Saviour. "Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12”. John's message was
to make this crystal clear to all. A faith that is anchored to anyone or
anything other than Jesus Christ can never save people from sin and lead to a
changed life. People must hear and understand this great point of truth. This
truth is also the very heart of God's three-point Elijah message for today.
