The Three Angels’ Messages
Revelation 14:6-13
First Angel:
| Revelation 14:6 | “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.” |
After John sees the victory of the 144,000, he beholds three angels flying one after another through the middle of heaven with powerful messages. This picture is meant to show that these messages are becoming visible to the whole world. God wants His followers to illuminate the world with this light, so that all can choose between true and false worship.
The first angel proclaims an eternal gospel that calls people on earth to follow God. But what is the gospel, and why is it eternal?
The word “gospel” comes from the Greek and means “good news.” In the context of the Bible, the gospel refers to God’s offer of redemption to humanity. It is about the great plan of salvation for all people, a plan God made before the foundation of this world:
Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.”
This good news is the only hope of salvation since Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. Sin entered the world through disobedience to God’s “law of liberty” and separated humanity from the Creator. The only hope was for God to send a Savior into the world to take the punishment for our transgression.
God’s plan for the salvation of mankind, which was symbolized by the Old Testament sanctuary service, provided that God himself would bear the punishment. Therefore, the Son of God became man in Jesus Christ and bore our sins on the cross of Calvary:
2 Corinthians 5:19, “For to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
Note: While religion is man’s attempt to earn eternity through his own achievements, whether through repentance or special sacrifices, the Gospel of the Bible describes God’s action to redeem man. For, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14:6).
When a person recognizes God’s great love for His creatures and understands the wonderful way He has effected redemption for them, and when he has experienced the forgiveness of his own sins, he wants to follow Jesus and be obedient to His commandments out of love and gratitude to his God and his Redeemer—not in order to earn heaven for himself, but to give God the highest glory. This good news of salvation through Jesus Christ will be proclaimed to all peoples, languages, and nations. For Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 24:14, “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.”
So the first angel is a symbol of the end-time church of Jesus, which has been commissioned by its Lord and Savior to carry the gospel into the whole world.
| Revelation 14:7 | “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.” |
The message of the first angel challenges people to make a decision for God. Many people have not yet heard this message or remain undecided in their spiritual lives. But as long as the time of grace lasts, i.e. the possibility of a decision, God fights for every single person and offers them salvation through Jesus Christ. God has shown through the prophet Joel that men must decide at the end of time:
Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”
The decisive point here is that God does indeed demand things of us, but only because He has given us redemption beforehand. First comes the message of the gospel and only then the demands of God. As in the Old Testament, God first delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, and only then did He give them the Ten Commandments, so now God gives first, before He expects obedience out of gratitude.
What does it mean to fear God and give Him glory?
Well, it certainly does not mean that we should fear God in the sense of “being afraid.” Several passages in the Bible use the phrase “do not fear,” so we must look in the Bible to see what it means to fear God. The following verses help to explain:
| Deuteronomy 10:12 | To walk in the ways of the Lord, serve Him, and love Him with all your heart. |
| Genesis 22:12 | To trust God completely, even in situations in which we do not understand God’s way of doing things. |
| Psalm 130:4 | To serve God from the right motivation—out of gratitude for salvation. |
Fearing God, then, does not mean being afraid or fearful of God or merely showing outward reverence for Him, but it means trusting and loving Him. It is a reaction or a response to His love for us, which is displayed not only in nature, but above all in Jesus. If we fear God, then we give Him the glory. The one who walks in humility before his God and tries in all areas of his life to give God the first place, gives the glory to God and “fears his God.”
Another important point in giving glory to God can be found here:
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
In the first pages of the Bible we learn that we are creatures of God. God has given us His Spirit to live. Because God now keeps us alive through the Spirit, our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Since our body is a temple of God, and we should therefore not spoil it, God calls us to a healthy way of life. This includes a healthy diet, exercise, pure water for external and internal use, sunshine, moderation and self-control, fresh air, relaxation and rest, avoiding harmful substances (like caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco), and most importantly, trust in God.
Note: As far as healthy nutrition is concerned, Leviticus 11 tells us which animal species God intended for human consumption after the Flood and which are not to be eaten. Since God is the Creator of all life, and since He wants us to have a good, healthy life, He has told us in His Word which animals are good for food and which are not. The division between clean and unclean animals is mentioned at the time of the Flood (Gen 7:2), but it is still in effect today. In fact, in this present age, it is necessary to consider whether a vegetarian or vegan diet would not be even more preferable given current animal husbandry methods and existing animal diseases. These rules were indeed given to ancient Israel, but when God gives general advice to His creatures, it should be observed. God expects this from His people. Even now we often observe the hygiene regulations from that time without thinking about them (e.g. Numbers 19:16). Especially as the division into pure and unclean animals is already mentioned at the time of the Flood (Gen 7:2).
Note: Because God knows that man needs rest, He has, in His boundless wisdom, created a day on which man may rest and have fellowship with his Creator. This day of rest, which the Bible calls the Sabbath, was instituted by God in Paradise, and today He still offers all humanity the opportunity to commune with Him on His Sabbath rest day.
Furthermore, the angel invites us to worship Him who created heaven and earth. Worship should be given to the Creator only, because God alone is worthy of worship. He has given us a commandment regarding worship, which is connected with creation:
Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 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.”
A central part of worshiping God is observing the biblical day of rest: the seventh-day Sabbath. This day of rest was instituted by God at the creation of the earth, and His special blessing sanctifies this day. Unfortunately, many people do not yet know that Sunday is not the biblical Sabbath. That is why the angels must fly with this message!
Let us now look at the judgment mentioned here. What does it mean that the hour of His judgment has come?
While in today’s usage the word “judgment” has rather negative connotations, here it represents a good message. The day of God’s judgment serves to justify the followers of Jesus. Since the Bible teaches unequivocally that judgment will take place in heaven even before the Second Coming of Jesus (Daniel 7:26), the “hour of judgment” marks the point at which heavenly judgment begins. The Judgment, which represents the second phase of Jesus’ heavenly ministry of reconciliation, began in 1844 AD, because in that year the prophecy of the 2300 days (Daniel 8:14) ended.
Since that time, believers have begun to preach the Three Angels’ Messages throughout the world, and the spread of these messages will continue until Jesus returns in the clouds of heaven.
Second angel:
| Revelation 14:8 | “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.” |
The second angel’s message, which is directly related to the first message and the Gospel, warns of the fall of Babylon. Of course, the question arises what is meant by “Babylon,” since the literal Babylonian empire had long since fallen even at the time John wrote these words.
In Revelation 17, Babylon is portrayed as a woman with the following characteristics:
– Verse 1: She sits by many waters
– Verse 2: She commits fornication with the kings of the earth
– Verse 3: She makes people drunk with her wine
– Verse 4: She is clothed in purple
– Verse 5: She is the mother of all abominations on earth
– Verse 6: She is drunk with the blood of the saints
Babylon is a symbol for the churches which have fallen away from the pure teaching of the Bible and which reject the light of the First Angel’s Message (e.g. the Sabbath, a six-day creation, judgment from 1844 onward). They no longer follow Jesus only, but enter into a forbidden union with the state or with kings and rulers, or seek the favor of the world to further their interests. The wrath of their fornication represents the false teachings with which these churches seduce people. Babylon is thus a symbol of apostasy within Christianity.
While the first angel addresses his message to all languages and nations, this reference is missing in the case of the second angel. We can conclude from this that the Second Angel’s Message is addressed to those who already honor and fear God, but who are still in their respective churches and so must be informed about their condition. God issues His judgment on these churches: Babylon has fallen! Here it must be noted that there will be a time when the fall of Babylon will be complete, and God will call His people who honor and fear Him out of Babylon:
Revelation 18:1-4, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people…”
While in chapter 14 Babylon merely fell, by the time of the return of Jesus, as described in Revelation 18, it will have become the dwelling place for devils. This will certainly be due to the increasing spiritualism and mysticism within many Christian churches. As in the parable of the ten virgins, God’s people will then be called to leave Babylon:
Matthew 25:6, “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
In summary, all the churches that rejected the first angel’s message belong to Babylon. But the people of God, who are still in Babylon, will leave it as soon as they hear the cry that the Bridegroom is coming.
Third angel:
| Revelation 14:9-11 | “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.” |
The Third Angel’s Message warns with a loud voice against the worship of the beast and his image. This leads us directly back to Revelation 13, where we also encounter these symbols.
Proved by biblical features and historical data, it is clear that the beast can only stand for papal Rome, which unfortunately is an institution deceived by Satan. Also, the image of the beast can only stand for apostate Protestantism, which will follow in the footsteps of Rome by enacting laws that empower the state to carry out religious interests.
In Revelation 13:15, the Bible tells us that the image of the beast will one day go about to kill all who do not worship it. This is interesting because one of the characteristics of Babylon is that it is drunk with the blood of the saints. Whereas in the Middle Ages the followers of Jesus suffered persecution by papal Rome, shortly before the return of Jesus these persecutions will be repeated by apostate Protestantism.
What then is the sign of the beast and his image?
Since the threefold message of the angels forms a unified whole, the sign of the beast and the image must have something to do with the worship of God, for one accepts this sign by worshiping the beast and his image instead of the Creator of heaven and earth. However, since animals in prophecy are a symbol of political powers (which enact laws), the mark must symbolize religious laws that are in opposition to God’s laws and have something to do with worship. But which of God’s commandments has to do directly with worship of the Creator?
Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 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.”
In the fourth commandment, God calls on His followers to sanctify the Sabbath, but over the course of time, papal Rome has attempted to change the Sabbath to Sunday in a forbidden way. (cf. Link to Quotations on the Sabbath)
Thus today, even many Protestants keep a day of rest which is neither based on the Bible nor has the least holiness. But God does not leave His people in the dark about this. The messages of the three angels will go around the world, and people will be enlightened in regard to the significance of the biblical Sabbath.
Note: The holy Sabbath is not about legalism! The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace, not through the merit of our own works. The Sabbath is about the question of worship. Do I worship the Creator, or do I worship the beast and his image? Do I want to remain in sin or do the will of God out of gratitude? The call of the first angel’s message clearly shows God’s expectation:
“Fear God, and give glory to him; … and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14,7)
By pointing out the consequences of disobedience, God calls for a decision in the third message. Whoever chooses not to comply with this call—even though the Son of God became man in Jesus and died on the cross for the sins of mankind—whoever does not submit to the will of God from gratitude for his redemption, but chooses rather to continue in sin, will finally be struck by the wrath of God.
What is meant by the wrath of God?
While the Bible tells the story of God’s love for us sinners, it mentions the wrath of God over five hundred times. It is important to know that God is not angry about individual deeds. The wrath of God is directed against those who reject His loving actions and choose to remain in sin. Since God cannot forever allow His creation to suffer from sin, He will have to erase every trace of it. Revelation 15 and 16 describe the seven last plagues which complete the outpouring of the wrath of God. Anyone who remains impenitent and does not accept God’s offer of grace must be destroyed, because one day God will raise up a new earth (Revelation 21) where there will be no more sin, death, or suffering.
Note: Since God will eradicate sin once and for all, and since the Bible promises that there will be no more sin on the new earth, this means that the effects of the wrath of God are eternal. This is what is meant when the passage speaks of the smoke of their torment rising from eternity to eternity. Satan has unfortunately succeeded in presenting the God of love as if He wishes to torment human beings in an eternal hell. But as there will be no more suffering and no more pain on the new earth because all suffering will be banished from the whole universe for ever, so there can be no eternal torment for the despisers of salvation. However, the effect of their rebellion against God will be eternal.
| Revelation 14:12, 13 | “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” |
The climax of the Three Angels’ Messages culminates in the description of the people of God: they keep His commandments and believe in Jesus. This is the result of these three messages. God’s people do not keep His commandments because they have some righteousness of their own or because they want to earn redemption, no—but they keep the commandments of God because they know that the transgression of the commandments cost the life of the Son of God, who became man in Jesus Christ and gave His life in order to redeem humanity.
1 Peter 1:18, 19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Because God loves humanity and has shown His love by giving His Son, God expects from us a return of love, which is shown by obedience and keeping His commandments.
John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Since the last three messages are primarily about the worship of God, the special characteristic of the remnant people of God, as presented in Revelation 12:17, is the keeping of the biblical Sabbath, because in this point they differ from those who worship the beast and his image.
Faith in Jesus is demonstrated by the fact that the faithful are firmly attached to Him, follow Him joyfully, and trust Him absolutely in every situation of their lives. The patience of the saints is therefore expressed by the fact that they remain faithful to their Lord and Savior even in emergency situations and difficult times. In this way, the true followers will remain faithful to Jesus even in the last great tribulation (Daniel 12:1), at which time the great battle between Christ and Satan comes to an end, and during which God’s people must endure severe persecutions.
What does it mean that the dead are blessed?
John was instructed to write this sentence as an exhortation from God. It serves as consolation and encouragement for all who are faithful to Jesus, so that they may know that no matter what comes, they will rise again at the return of Jesus. They can have confidence that the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to His disciples in ancient times, will be with them to comfort them and guide them into all truth.
(Translated from: https://www.dasgeheimnis.de/web/offenbarung_14.htm)
For more details on final events click on this link: (the page is in German, but can be translated from the internet)