The Three Angels' Messages
An exploration of the messages of the three angels in Revelation 14:6-13, focusing on the call to worship the Creator, the warning against false doctrines, and the promise of rest for those who remain faithful.
1. The First Angel's Message: A Call to Worship the Creator
1.1 The Everlasting Gospel
Verses: Revelation 14:6; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38
- The everlasting gospel is not a new gospel, but the original message of salvation through Christ.
- It emphasizes repentance, faith, and obedience to God's commands.
1.2 Fear God and Give Him Glory
Verses: Revelation 14:7; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:7-8
- The fear of God involves reverence, awe, and a recognition of His holiness and power.
- Giving glory to God means acknowledging His attributes and praising Him for His greatness.
1.3 Worship Him Who Made Heaven and Earth
Verses: Revelation 14:7; Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16
- God is the Creator of all things, and this truth is foundational to our understanding of His authority.
- Worship is due to Him alone because of His creative power and sustaining grace.
2. The Second Angel's Message: The Fall of Babylon
2.1 Babylon is Fallen
Verses: Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2
- Babylon represents a system of religious and moral corruption that opposes God's truth.
- Its fall signifies the judgment and exposure of false doctrines and practices.
2.2 The Wine of the Wrath of Her Fornication
Verses: Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:3; Jeremiah 51:7
- The wine of her wrath refers to the deceptive teachings and practices that lead people astray.
- Nations drinking this wine symbolize their acceptance of false doctrines and their departure from God's truth.
3. The Third Angel's Message: Warning Against the Beast
3.1 Worshiping the Beast and Receiving His Mark
Verses: Revelation 14:9; Revelation 13:15-17
- The mark of the beast symbolizes allegiance to a system that opposes God's authority.
- Worshiping the beast and his image represents giving homage to false gods and doctrines.
3.2 The Wrath of God and Eternal Torment
Verses: Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41
- Those who worship the beast will experience God's wrath and judgment.
- The smoke of their torment ascending forever signifies the eternal consequences of rejecting God's truth.
4. The Call to Perseverance and Faith
4.1 The Patience of the Saints
Verses: Revelation 14:12; Revelation 12:17; 1 Corinthians 7:19
- Patience involves enduring trials and persecutions with unwavering faith.
- Keeping the commandments of God means obeying His moral laws and living a life of holiness.
4.2 Keeping the Faith of Jesus
Verses: Revelation 14:12; John 14:1; Acts 16:31
- Having faith in Jesus means trusting in His saving power and relying on His grace.
- It involves believing in His identity as the one true God manifested in flesh, His atoning sacrifice, and His resurrection.
5. A Promise of Rest and Reward
5.1 Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord
Verses: Revelation 14:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:7-8
- Dying in the Lord signifies a death that is blessed and sanctified by God's grace.
- Their works follow them means that their righteous deeds and faithful service will be remembered and rewarded.