And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth…saying with a loud voice: “Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come, and worship the One who made the heaven and earth and sea and fountains of water.”

And another angel, the second one, followed saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

And another angel, the third one, followed them saying with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will drink from the wine of the wrath of God which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulphur before the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the endurance of the saints, the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14: 6-12

The end-time eternal gospel is the same gospel taught by the apostles: the good news about Jesus’ death for our sins; His resurrection; His ascent to the heavenly throne; His intercession and judgment; and His soon return. It is news aimed at all unbelievers around the world.

The first angel (symbolically representing the saints) states to unbelievers that rather than succumbing to the fear of the beast, one should fear and respect God who is sole judge over eternal life and eternal death.  For the hour of Judgment that began in 1844; that includes all generations of the dead and then the living; is currently underway.

One fears God by obeying Him out of respect, keeping His commandments, and worshiping only Him (Deuteronomy 6: 13, 17; 10: 12, 13). It is the whole duty of a person (Ecclesiastes 12: 13).

Revelation makes it clear that in earth’s closing days, choosing who to worship will be the central issue. There will be no in-between; no neutrality. So as not to be deceived into worshiping the devil, one should remember the sign that identifies our Creator. The sign is in the angel’s words about worshiping the One who “created heaven, earth, and bodies of water.”

That is parallel language that alludes to the fourth commandment: the seventh-day Sabbath — God’s sign between Him and His people (Exodus 31: 17). The seventh-day Sabbath was made for mankind; not just the Jewish people (Mark 2: 27).

The second angel warns about the organized opposition to the gospel. It comes in the form of a world-wide religious system; a system put into place by the unholy trinity: the dragon, the sea beast, and the earth beast (the false prophet). This apostate religious system is a confederacy of religious elements and organizations backed by political powers (the uniting of church and state).

This end-time system is called Babylon (comes from the word “Babel,” meaning confusion). Within it are teachings that are contrary to the Bible; particularly salvation doctrine that’s based on self-reliant efforts instead of by divine grace. Its belief system is the wine that’s served to the nations. Revelation exposes it as a failed, doomed system.

Come out of Babylon and do not enter it, the third angel implies in its warning. For in it is to ultimately bear the mark of the beast and to worship the dragon.

An additional consequence of being in Babylon is to incur God’s wrath in the pouring out of the seven bowls of plagues. Holy and just, His wrath is a necessary response against those who reject Him, who resist the gospel, and who are oppressors of His people. His wrath is necessary to eliminate sin and rebellion in order that His kingdom may come and that His people may enter eternal rest.

The worshipers of the beast, however, will never, day or night, experience that rest. Instead, before the holy angels and the Lamb, they will enter a fiery fate. Like the brimstone fire rained on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19: 24, 27, 28), fire and sulphur will rain on the beast worshipers. It will be a tormented fate of absolute, complete, eternal destruction. Once the fire has accomplished that purpose, there will be nothing left but rising smoke.*

In conclusion to the message, John underscores the main trait of God’s end-time people. It helps gets them through earth’s final events. The trait is patience, fortified by obedience to God’s commandments (not leaving out the 4th one) and by faith in Jesus.

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*Read the truth about hell. Click here