Revelation 14:6-13
4 Messages from Heaven
– Part 1
“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”
Pray
Introduction
√ Sign of the times?
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
2004
REV. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse. J
√ Messages are important – and valuable!
Ex. Titanic SOS messages sold for something like $135,000!
It was a desperate message for help that unfortunately fell on deaf ears.
This morning we'll begin looking at 4 different messages from heaven…
3 to unrepentant Mankind
1 to the saints living in the Tribulation
These messages don't cost anything to hear - but to ignore them will cost those living during the Tribulation their chance to enjoy eternity with Jesus.
Message 1 - worship the Creator!
Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--
Rev 14:7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
√ The messenger
The first 3 messages are brought to Mankind by angels.
"Angel" = "messenger"
Interesting that the Book of Revelation has more references to angels than any other book in the Bible.
70 Times of the 278 times in the Bible (1 of 4!)
Speaks to us that in this last period of human history before Jesus executes His wrath upon the earth that God will employ every means at His disposable to communicate to Man his great need to repent and to receive God's Grace before it's too late!
So we see even in this time of unprecedented trouble and judgement that God's mercy is still evident for it is His desire that all men would be saved.
√ The 1st message
"...having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth" - vs. 6
Ordinarily when we hear "everlasting gospel" we'd think of the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.
However, that's not the content of the message this angel is proclaiming - note vs. 7...
"Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
Rather this message is the proclamation that the time of God's judgement has come and a commandment is given to worship the Creator…
…not the creation.
Reveals the characteristic of Man's heart during the Tribulation and the days leading up to that time.
That is, that Mankind will reject the existence of a personal God and turn to worship the creation....
Nature
Animals
Human potential
Paul writing to the Romans revealed that the rejection of the Creator and the associated lack of thanksgiving due Him is the foundation of Man's sinfulness.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Rom 1:19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.
God's existence is so clearly revealed in His creation that to examine the earth, the universe, man and beast and to come to any other conclusion than that it is the result of a Divine design is the height of arrogance and ignorance.
Ex. The testimony of scientist
Sir Isaac Newton said…
"When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance."
A.E. Wilder-Smith...
"We know perfectly well that if you leave matter to itself, it does not organize itself - in spite of all the efforts in recent years to prove that it does."
The point is that science continually validates the declaration of Scripture that the Creation itself testifies of the Creator.
√ Man’s rejection of the Truth
So why does Man hold onto the idea of evolution in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary?
Because to acknowledge a Creator one would then have to acknowledge the Creator’s superiority over Man and by necessity require Man to worship and obey Him!
Sinful man is not willing to worship anyone but himself - the creation!
So, God's message to those who dwell on the earth during the Tribulation is to turn away from the false religion of Man and worship Him Who created Man and heaven, the earth, the sea and the rivers.
Message 2 - the Kingdoms of Men are finished
Rev 14:8 And
another angel followed, saying, "
√ Message 2 – the kingdoms of Men are finished
The second angel proclaims the destruction of "
Prophetically "
The apostate church (religious system) in the last days (Rev. 17)
The world political system in the last days (Rev. 18)
...all stemming from the evil influence of historic
"
Until Saddam Hussain.
Ex. Neo-Babylon
Until Saddam was taken from power he…
Rebuilt
Including the Ishtar Gate.
Maintained a presidential palace there.
Minted coins with his image on one side and Nebuchadnezzar's on the other.
So, the possibility has been raised by some that the
√ Which is it?
So, the "
…or symbolic of World political system under the rule of Antichrist.
The important point that we don't want to miss in our
questions regarding the exact identification of
…that we have here God's assurance that the evil influence
of
Specifically, the false religion of Man and the government of Antichrist wherever that is.
Ap. The message to the Saints
Who read this Revelation in John's day who were suffering under the persecution of Domitian, and to the saints in every age, is a message of comfort.
Knowing that their suffering will come to an end and that God will judge those who persecute His saints.
So, the 2nd message from heaven reminds us that in the final analysis, God and His Saints win!
Message 3 - Hell is a real place!
Rev 14:9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev 14:10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength 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.
Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
√ Message 3 – Hell is a real place!
The message of the 3rd angel has no encouragement whatsoever!
It's a final warning really to those who dwell on the earth who have yet to receive the mark of the beast.
The message is simple;
Hell is a real place and if you worship the beast, or his image and receive his mark (seal of ownership) then you are going to spend eternity there!
Hell is not a popular subject these days.
Most cults deny it's existence (J.W.'s, Robert Schular and Vincent Peale, Unity - "too negative").
The uninformed reject the idea of hell as they don’t believe a God of Love could create such a place.
The philosophies of man discredit it as a tool to keep weak-minded folks in subjection to the so-called "evils of Christianity".
Yet we find in the Bible that Jesus wasn't shy at all about the subject.
He made 11 of the 12 references to hell (gehenha).
He made 12 of the 19 references to hell fire.
And used similar expressions to hell more than any other person in the New Testament!
The point? If Jesus believed that Hell is a real place and warned people of its existence…
…then it would be to our benefit to believe Him!
√ Why don’t they believe the Bible?
Why would it be that the cults, the uninformed and the self-proclaimed masters of wisdom deny the existence of Hell when Jesus speaks of it as a real place to avoid?
Because Satan, the great deceiver...
Is the mind behind the doctrines of the cults.
He is the seducing sedative of the uninformed.
He is the liar behind the vain philosophies of our day.
You see, if Satan can keep people ignorant of the reality of hell…
…he can at the same time keep people from the promise of heaven!
Reminds us that the greatest danger is the one that you are not aware exists!
Why? Because you cannot take measures to protect yourself against it.
Ex. Terrorism in America
Note: I first used this example in 1998!
The Oklahoma City bombing could have been prevented if…
…the building had been designed without easy access for vehicles - like in Britain.
However, our mind set here has always been one of ease, not security in our own land.
Buildings are designed for ease of access so that people can get to them.
We never imagined that people would want to get close to the building so that they could blow them up.
The greatest danger to the folks in government service that morning was not …
The ICBM's of the Russians
Nerve gas of Al Quida
…but the unknown danger of our fellow citizens.
Though we Americans never liked to talk about terrorist acts in the US - now we know that they are a real danger.
So, the message of the 3rd angel reminds us that Hell is a real place and to ignore its existence is the greatest danger to sinful man.
Close
√ Messages from Heaven
These first 3 messages from Heaven are directed to sinful people on the earth during the days of the Tribulation.
God calling Man to repentance and salvation. God pleading with them to turn and…
Worship the Creator
The kingdoms of Men are finished
Hell is a real place
…for the wrath of God is coming and His judgment will be final.
√ Next week
We’ll look at what the Bible has to say about this place called Hell and the 4th Message from Heaven to the Saints who are living during the Great Tribulation.