Assignment – Read Revelation 14:6-13
The Three Angels
In the next few verses, heaven delivers a series of messages to the earth via three angelic heralds and a fourth voice from heaven. These messages proclaim the gospel, a warning, and a blessing.
Angel #1 – John sees a series of angels flying “overhead” or in “midair” (depending on your translation). It is quite possible the world will actually see these angels flying overhead. At least one author states, “…the word “midheaven” (14:6) is μεσουράνημα, which means ‘the highest point of the sun at midday.’” In other words, this angel might literally fly in the physical atmosphere, so the context suggests the flight of this angel (and the others) will be an actual and observable event.[i]
Also, this might be the very last opportunity for people to turn to God as this angel preaches the “eternal gospel” for the entire world to hear. It is as if he is a loudspeaker flying overhead! (Note that Satan’s reign as “prince of the air” – Eph. 2:2 – is over!) What will this look like? We don’t know. What we do know is this angel’s message contains a warning to fear God and worship Him alone. Do NOT worship the beast or his image or the creation, because “the hour of His judgment has come” (14:7).Although this message will be largely ignored by the world, it is an encouragement to all believers to hang in there and persevere because the alternative is worse!
Important Point: This first angel’s message might be a fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14. Take a moment and look up that crucial verse now, because many have understood this verse to refer to the spread of the gospel through Christian missionaries or technology, and that the “end” will come only after the entire world has heard the gospel message. Current technology such as the internet, smartphones, and podcasts makes it possible for just about everyone across this globe to hear the gospel today. Therefore, many organizations that send missionaries, translate the Bible into other languages, or upload sermons, Bibles, and Christian education to the internet are motivated by Matthew 24:14. This could mean that Christ’s words are literally being fulfilled through today’s technology.
Ultimately, whether the angel’s words in Rev. 14:6 fulfills Christ’s prophecy, or whether current missions and technology are fulfilling it now, God will make certain every person on earth will have a chance to hear (and respond to) the gospel before the end comes!
Angel #2 – In Rev. 14:8, the second angel brings a warning that the two beasts and everything they promote, support, and stand for will be destroyed (“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great). The second and third angels, by the way, address the immorality and the idolatry rampant in the world.
Several things to notice here:
- The Greek word fallen in this verse is in a tense indicating the action is not yet complete… but will be. This is a foregone conclusion.
- This is the first time the word Babylon is mentioned in the book of Revelation.
Of course, not everyone agrees with who or what “Babylon” represents in the book of Revelation either, but it will be an important element in the next few chapters. Since there are several Old Testament prophecies about the destruction of ancient Babylon and God’s promise that it would be uninhabited and never rebuilt (see Isaiah 13:19-22, and Jeremiah 51:26, 64), we can state with confidence that this is not referring to an actual, future, rebuilt city of Babylon. God promised that would never happen.
Instead, many believe Babylon represents Rome in John’s vision and was probably code word for the evil Roman Empire. Others think Babylon is another way of describing a future Antichrist’s wicked empire in the Tribulation period. And still other scholars believe Babylon represents any and all evil empires throughout history, and not just the one John was experiencing. Some believe Babylon was a metaphor, an image of any empire filled with violence, immorality, oppression, and idolatry.” It is possible that Babylon in the book of Revelation can describe any culture or government (past, present, or future) that rejects or opposes God.
This would be consistent with Babylon throughout Scripture. In fact, if we go back to Nimrod and the tower of Babel story in Genesis 10:8-10 and 11:1-9, respectively, Babylon has always represented human government opposed to God. This was also true for the actual Babylonian empire under King Nebuchadnezzar, an empire that dominated the world scene for almost a century, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, and carried the people off into exile in 587 BC. (The prophecies in the book of Daniel shed more light on several evil empires throughout history, including God’s eternal kingdom that will appear at some point in the future.)
What we do know is this angel in Rev. 14:8 is predicting judgment on “Babylon the Great” for the sins of humanity. And since Babylon did not exist in John’s lifetime, this must be a symbolic reference to something else; something that “seduced” the world into spiritual adultery.
Angel #3 – A third and final angel flies from heaven and brings a warning to the inhabitants of the earth (verses 9-11), specifically to those who have taken the mark to affirm their worship and allegiance to the beast. The message is simple: DO NOT FOLLOW OR WORSHIP THE BEAST because the consequences will be severe. Stop and re-read verses 10-11. Then meditate on the full impact of these verses.
Also, while the angel appears to be addressing the unbelieving world, it is possible this warning is also intended to encourage and support the remaining believers on the earth (note who is addressed in verse 12).
Notice that wine is mentioned twice in this passage: Babylon’s “maddening wine of her adulteries” (v. 8) and “the wine of God’s fury” (v. 10). The first is referring to the temporary, feel-good intoxication of sin. It never lasts and requires more and more to reach the same stupor. God’s wine, on the other hand, is something completely different. In the Scriptures, God’s wrath is often pictured as a cup of wine to be consumed and is always a righteous response to sin. Take a moment to read and ponder Psalm 75:8. For obvious reasons, this is one glass of wine you never want to drink! Note: we see the grapes for this wine trampled in the great winepress in verses 14-20 below. This image is a metaphor of God’s judgment also found in the Old Testament.
Then John heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on” (14:13). Some believe this blessing applies only to those who are martyred during the future tribulation. However, based on the context, it seems more accurate to apply this blessing to all who faithfully live and die for Jesus from the time John wrote those words (as instructed) until the day Christ comes again. It does not have to apply only to martyrs. While arguments have been made for both cases, the central point is that God blesses those who obey him and ultimately die as a believer in Jesus (regardless of when). They will rest from their labor, not suffer God’s wrath, and will be remembered in heaven.
Did you catch that verse 13 is a promise directly from the Holy Spirit? This is unique because the Spirit’s words are a rarity in the Bible. This is also a promise we can count on. If you are obedient to God and believe that following Jesus is more important than anything else, then God will remember you favorably on the Day of Judgment.
Look back on the messages of each of the three angels in Rev. 14:6-11. I challenge you to write a single summary statement for each angel. Keep it brief and identify the main point of each message.
Billy Graham once said,
“God will never send anybody to hell. If man goes to hell, he goes by his own free choice… God has done everything within His power to keep you out. He even gave His Son to die on that cross to keep you out… You can go to heaven or to hell. The choice is yours.”[ii]
The harvest is coming!
[i] Marks, 300.
[ii] Life Application Bible Commentary, Revelation, 169.
