God’s messages to mankind are found in Revelation, Chapter 14. There we find three angels with different messages. Their messages to mankind are delivered one after the other. At the end of Revelation, John is told not to seal up the book because it begins now. Revelation 22:10 “And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.” With the fall of Babylon, we discover the first angel has already delivered his message.
First Angel
Revelation 14:6-7 “And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”
Comment: Assuming we are presently arriving at the completion of the fall of Babylon, we realize that the first angel’s message was delivered by Jesus in John 12:31-32 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.” This message continued to be delivered down through the Church Age by the followers of Christ.
Revelation 14:1-5 “And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth. These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.”
Comment: God announces during the first angel’s message that there are one hundred and forty-four thousand that are purchased from among men as first fruits. In Bible the first fruits are what was sacrificed on the altar. These are those that experience martyrdom during the Church Age, and only they can sing of this experience from their sacrifice. Mount Zion is were Jesus was crucified.
Second Angel
Revelation 14:8 “And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
Comment: The second angel’s message of Babylon’s fall will be delivered to mankind in the same manner, which is by God’s followers. They realize that the prophecy has been fulfilled. The emphasis changes from that of the first message. This doesn’t negate the first angel’s message, but adds new revelation.
Third Angel
Revelation 14:9-12 “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; 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 goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Comment: The third angel’s message also will be delivered by God’s followers. The emphasis will be, “Don’t worship the beast by taking his mark.” During this time God once again is defending Israel. The delivery of this message to mankind begins with the 144,000 Jews that are sealed (12,000 from each tribe). The final message to mankind from God during the tribulation will be delivered by the two witnesses in Chapter 11. They have power the power to smite the earth with every plague as often as they desire. Their deaths are celebrated by mankind, because the world thinks they have stopped the plagues of God’s wrath which the two witnesses were delivering.
Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.”
Comment: Here we are told God’s message will be preached in the entire world for a testimony, and then the end will come. Just as the whole world sees the bodies of the two witnesses lying dead in the streets, they will have heard God’s message through them.
Revelation 14:14-20 “And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”
Matthew 24:38-42 “For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left. Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.”
Matthew 13:40-42 “As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”
Comment: The end brings the gathering of the tares by the angels, and casting them into the lake of fire. Those people who endure to the end will be gathered into God’s Kingdom.
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Comment: Here we find further evidence that God’s followers will deliver His message to mankind. The Holy Spirit transforms the believers during the Church Age; they are the Bride of Christ. They in turn testify to those they come in contact with, inviting them to be part of God’s Kingdom.
