The Three Angels' Message
Revelation 14:6-12
“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, 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. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.“
First Angel’s Message v. 6-7.
The apostle John calls it “another angel,” because in chapter 8 verse 13 he previously seen “and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven” after the fourth angel had sounded announcing the last three trumpets of woe as what we call the three woe trumpets. Please note that that event occurred about the close of the sixth century describing the troubles that came especially upon the eastern third of the old Roman Empire. This is one proof that the message of the first angel of Revelation 14 cannot be proclaimed in the time of the apostles but at the time of the end before the second coming of Christ.
Historically, this message was proclaimed in the years 1840-1844 in various parts of the globe or “to every nation”. This is the same message that was given to the Philadelphian church. (Revelation 3:7-13) It is the same message that was contained in the “little book” which John was told to eat up as described in Revelation 10. It is also the same Judgment message that was revealed to Daniel, when he saw the Son of man brought before the Ancient of Days, and “the books were opened,” – events that took place, in 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days. (Daniel 7:9-10, 13) The symbol used was a mighty angel from heaven with the gospel of peace and salvation – not a wild beast, nor a war horse, nor a trumpet of war- indicating that the message is of a high character and of great importance. In his rapid flight the angel speedily gave the message to all the world. He announced that the hour of God’s Judgment is come and to worship God.
Three Angels represents a People
These “three angels” represent a people who receive the truth and with power give the gospel message. In Mark 16:15, before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said to all the believers, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” He also gave this as one of the signs of the end time. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” Jesus is coming soon the second time "in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, salvation and honour" (Matthew 24:14, 30; Revelation 19:1). This gospel message was given because the principles of the professed churches of Christ have become corrupted with the influence of the world and He wanted them to repent and separate from their sins and be clean. (1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4).
Fear God means to hate evil or sin
The announcement in verse 7 that to “fear God” means to “hate evil or sin” (Proverbs 8:13; 16:6). Because sin is the transgression of the law and its wages is death, (1 John 3:4; Romans 6:23) it implies that fearing God is associated in walking in all His ways, and loving Him, and serving Him with all our heart and soul. Fearing that we offend God by not keeping His commandments and commit sin. (Deuteronomy 10:12; John 14:15; Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Give glory to Him means to bear much fruit
To “give glory to Him” is to “bear much fruit” and “being filled with the fruits of righteousness”. Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness” will bring us fruit of “love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance” revealing His character in our own, and thus make Him known. We can glorify God in whatever way we make known the Father and the Son. (John 15:8; Philippians 1:11; Galatians 5:22-23)
The Hour of His judgment is come
The announcement, "The hour of His judgment is come," points to the closing work of Christ's ministration in heavenly sanctuary for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour's intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in October 22, 1844 must continue until the cases of all who professed the name of Christ are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation. It will be completed before Jesus comes or as Revelation 19:2 cited that when Jesus comes, “He hath judged.” It was one of the topics of Paul to Felix that he trembled about for the “judgment to come” (Acts 24:25). Please note that this event is different from the judgment of the wicked by Christ and His saints, which occurs during the millennium; or the final judgment and punishment of the wicked, which takes place at the end of the 1000 years.
Will you respond to this call?
Today, the warning comes to everyone who professes the name of Christ to closely examine themselves and make full and thorough confessions of all their wrongs that they may go beforehand to judgement and that the recording angel may write pardon opposite their names. (1 Timothy 5:24; Matthew 18:10; Job 16:19; 1T 263) Will you respond to this call? Or like the trembled Felix will you also say, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee”? Acts 24:25. God forbid!
To worship God is to worship our Creator
To “worship Him that made heaven and earth…” is calling everyone to worship our Creator for we owe to Him our life and existence. His claim to reverence and worship above the gods of the heathen is because of the evidence of His creative power. "All the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens." Psalm 96:5. As a Creator, He is distinguished from all false gods. “Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth… He [the true God –v. 10) hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion." Jeremiah 10:11, 12. “To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things." "Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it: . . . I am the Lord; and there is none else." Isaiah 40:25,26; 45:18. "Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves." "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." Psalm 100:3; 95:6. The reason why our homage is due to Him is because “Thou hast created all things." Revelation 4:11.
The End Result
The end result of receiving the three angels message are keeping the commandments of God and one of these points to the fourth commandment declaring God as the Creator that “the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodos 20:10-11. The Sabbath is “a sign, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Ezekiel 20:20. And yes, knowing God is rooted in having eternal life (John 17:3) for when He comes many who profess “to know God” -- who even used His name to prophesy, to cast out devils or work miracles -- they will hear God’s terrible words, “I never knew you: depart from me , ye that work iniquity (or sin).” Matthew 7:21-23. What a very sad scenario and yet how it’s true! Do you really know God? Or shall we say rather, does God know you because you have His sign or seal? Let us not worship God in vain by “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” and “laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.” Mark 7:7-8.
Second Angel’s Message, v. 8
When William Miller and others began to preach the message of the coming of Jesus, they had no thought of organizing a separate church, or separating the people from their own churches, namely the different protestant churches like Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, etc. Their whole burden was to help them prepare to meet the Lord. But many honest believers were not allowed to express their faith, and in many instances were excluded from the church to which they had belonged. So the Protestant church rejected such message and the second angel’s message was sounded next, “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. This message was understood to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in consequence of their rejection of the first message. The proclamation, “Babylon is fallen,” was given in the summer of 1844, and as the result, about 50,000 withdrew from these churches. 4SP 232. Like the first angel’s message, this call continues to be given, for these Babylon churches have continued to reject the special truths for this time that they have fallen lower and lower. That is the reason why it is repeated by the fourth angel of the Revelation 18 -- which is the last call now being given to all churches for there are still many God’s honest people who will yet hear this message and separate from their connections.
Babylon means confusion and a harlot
The word Babylon signifies confusion, and is derived from Babel, the place where God confounded the inhabitants of the earth in their impious attempt to build a tower up to heaven. (Genesis 11:9; 10:10).
The church was represented as a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2). But she became a harlot by seeking the friendship of the world. (James 4:4). It was this unlawful connection with the kings of the earth that constituted her the mother of harlot. (Revelation 17:1-5). The Jewish Church, represented as espoused to the Lord (Jeremiah 2; 3; 31:32), became a harlot in the same manner. (Ezekiel 16:15; Isaiah 1:21). And Rome, corrupting herself in like manner by seeking the support of worldly powers, receives a like condemnation… Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s example of iniquitous connection with “the kings of the earth”—the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term “Babylon”—confusion—may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.
Wine means false doctrines
The “wine” is the false doctrines of Babylon (Isaiah 29:9,13; Matthew 15:8-9) which are the immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, Sunday sacredness, trinity, etc. which were taught by the Roman Church.
The word “fornication” means to commit harlotry (Strong's G4203). So all the churches of today are drunk upon Babylon's false doctrines and have committed harlotry with her. Thus they have all became a harlot of Babylon.
God is calling you to flee and come out for her destruction is certain.
It is mercy’s last call today!
"Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He will render unto her a recompence." Jeremiah 51:6.
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." Revelation 18: 4, 5.
"And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. . . . And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." Revelation 18: 21-24.
Third Angel’s Message, v. 9-12
"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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. “
Most solemn warning
The message of the third angel is the most solemn warning we can read in the Bible for it tells us what would be the fate of those who engage in false worship. The strong voice of the third angel, depicting its high importance, announces the judgment of God to those who will “worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” While the first angel pointed us to worship the true God “that made heaven and earth”, and lead us to receive the seal of God by keeping His commandment. (v. 12; Isaiah 8:16)
Identifying the symbols
In order for us to avoid receiving the wrath of God without mixture of mercy, it is necessary to identify these symbols.
Who is the Beast? It is the Papacy.
Revelation 13:1-10 described another beast, "like unto a leopard," to which the dragon gave "his power, and his seat, and great authority." This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once held by the ancient Roman empire. Of the leopardlike beast it is declared: "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." This prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7, unquestionably points to the papacy.
"Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." And, says the prophet, "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death." And again: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." The forty and two months are the same as the "time and times and the dividing of time," three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7 - - the time during which the papal power was to oppress God's people. This period began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity."
What is the Image of the Beast? It is the Apostate Protestantism.
"Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." Revelation 13:11-14. Here is clearly presented a form of government in which the legislative power rests with the people, a most striking evidence that the United States is the nation denoted in the prophecy.
But what is the "image to the beast"? and how is it to be formed? The image is made by the two-horned beast (USA), and is an image to the beast. It is also called an image of the beast. Then to learn what the image is like and how it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast itself--the papacy.
When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of "heresy." In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends.
When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.
The beast with two horns "causeth [commands] all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:16, 17. The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.
Image of the Beast NOW alive
Are you aware that this Image of the Beast is now alive in America? On March 7th 2006, President George Bush signed the Executive Order (# 13397) that REMOVES the separation of church and state and forces all churches (with 501C3 status) to become government agencies. Hence, the CHURCHES HAVE BECOME "OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES". Please click here for more documentations.
What is the Mark of the Beast? The enforcement of Sunday Law since the change of Seventh day Sabbath to Sunday was the sign or mark of the authority of the Roman church.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday) was her act... And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.
"SUNDAY is our MARK of authority. . .the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." Catholic Record of London, Ontario Sept 1,1923.
"The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church." --Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, page 213.
Two Great Classes at the END
After the warning against the worship of the beast and his image the prophecy declares: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Since those who keep God's commandments are thus placed in contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, it follows that the keeping of God's law, on the one hand, and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast.
In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great classes--those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond" (Revelation 13:16), to receive "the mark of the beast," yet the people of God will not receive it. The prophet of Patmos beholds "them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God" and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Revelation 15:2, 3.
CHOOSE LIFE!
Our loving God wanted you to stand on the sea of glass in heaven with Him. Will you be part of that great class in the Kingdom of God? It's your choice. Choose LIFE!