Purpose
To reveal the last message to the Church and the world.
Prayer Thought
“Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message…. This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel’s message in 1844.” — “Early Writings,” p. 277. Again we read, “Be assured that there are messages to come from human lips, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. ‘Cry aloud, spare not… show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins’.” — “Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 296. “Another message of warning and instruction was to be given the church.” — “The Great Controversy,” p. 425. {2SR 229.4}
The 3 Angels’ messages are recorded in Rev. 14:6-11. But before that, we notice that the Bible starts with the record of the 144000 in Rev.14:1-5. Therefore, there must be a special relationship between the 144000 and the Angels’ messages, we shall refer to this later in this study.
There are 5 speaking angels in this chapter, though we are familiar with the 3 only.
Question
Are these literal Angels or symbolic?
Letter 79, 1900 (7BC 979) – “These angels represent those who receive the truth, and with power open the Gospel to the world.”
A Word to the Little Flock, 10-11 – “…all five of the Angels brought to view in this chapter, represent five distinct messages, prior to the advent, or we are left without a rule to interpret this chapter…It is plain that we live in the time of the third angel’s message. The last two Angels are messages of prayer. We shall no doubt, better understand them at the time of their fulfillment…”
Vol. 7 Bible Commentary 798 – “The fourteenth chapter of Revelation of the deepest interest. This scripture will soon be understood in all its bearings and the messages given to John the Revelator will be repeated with distinct utterance.”
1. WHEN DID THESE ANGELS ARRIVE?
Counsels to Writers and Editors 26-27 – “The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third, but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the Truth.”
Gospel Workers 251 – “We talk about the first angel’s message and the second angel’s message, and we think we have some understanding of the third angel’s message. But as long as we are contend with a limited knowledge, we shall be disqualified to obtain clearer views of truth.”
2. ANGELS 1 SPEAKS
Rev. 14:6-7 – “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, 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’.”
“Fear God” = Respect, obey, believe His prophetic Word, trust in His prophetic promises that what He said “…no one of these shall fail …for my mouth it has commanded, and His Spirit it has gathered them…” Isa 34:16. Therefore, investigate the Word for yourself, not entrusting others to do it for you.
7BC 978. -“…give glory to God is to reveal His character in our own, then make Him known.”
“The hour of His judgment”- points to the Judgment of the Dead which started in 1844.
GC 490 – “The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon–none know how soon–it will pass to the cases of the living.”
Therefore, this angel’s message which began in 1843, is to be repeated now – to announce the Judgment of the Living. It is today God is to make known the Judgment of the living through the repetition of the 1st Angel’s message. Therefore if this time is ripe, and the Church watches and prays, we should expect to see the proclaiming this message of the Judgment of the Living.
3. ANGEL 2 SPEAKS
Rev. 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.”
This angel began to preach “…in the summer of 1844, the change is a progressive one, and the direct fulfillment of Rev. 14:8 is yet future” – GC 390. That is, at the time Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine (false doctrines) of her fornication – the Sunday law. Then she will completely fall, and the 2nd Angel’s message will be repeated to announce the fall of Babylon and the calling of God’s people to come out of her domain.
4. ANGEL 3 SPEAKS
Rev.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”
7BC 977 “The Question Before Us Now.–The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict, in which all the world will act a part. Men have honored Satan’s principles above the principles that rule in the heavens. They have accepted the spurious sabbath, which Satan has exalted as the sign of his authority. But God has set His seal upon His royal requirement. Each Sabbath institution, both true and false, bears the name of its author, an ineffaceable mark that shows the authority of each….The great decision now to be made by everyone is, whether he will receive the mark of the beast.”
MS 118, 1899 – “Mark of Beast Not Yet Applied.—Sunday-keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol sabbath. The time will come when this day will be the test, but that time has not come yet.”
6T. 17 – “The light we have received upon the third angel’s message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world….
The 3rd Angel’s Message is the Sanctuary and Sabbath Truth. It began to be preached in 1844-1845. But as the pattern shows it is also to be repeated at the time the Sunday law will be decreed. Therefore, the SDA Church cannot fully comprehend the sacredness and importance of the Sanctuary and Sabbath, until it shall be repeated.
Maranatha 245 – “…Sabbath we had a sweet, glorious time. . . . We were made to rejoice and glorify God for His exceeding goodness unto us. . . . I was taken off in vision… I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and glory. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and glory….”
Rev. 14:12 – “Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Verse 12 shows us the people or church which has been put together by the 3 Angel’s Messages – the SDA Church.
Rev. 14:13 – “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.”
It just talks about the Special Resurrection of the group in Rev. 14:12, the SDAs. (Dan. 12:1/GC 637):
Therefore
7T. 17 – “The battle cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness, and with firm faith in God. Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.”
5. One More Angel SPEAKS!
Rev.14:14 – “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev.14:15-16 – “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”
NOTE
The one on the cloud is Jesus, but is this at His 2nd Coming? Note that here, He has upon His head a crown – that is, one crown. But at His 2nd Coming, He will not have one crown. Let’s read:
Rev. 19:11-12 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”
Early Writings 281 – “Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. Upon His head were many crowns, a crown within a crown. Surrounded by the angelic host, He left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth.
NOTE
In this coming, Jesus does a harvest, and the role of the other Angel’s message (4th Angel’s) is to prepare the people and the way for Jesus for the harvest – which is the Judgment of the Living, that is “to begin in the House of God” (1Pet. 4:17) – the SDA Church. This is the first harvest which gives Jesus the 1st fruits – the 144000 from the SDA Church.
Rev. 14:15 – “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap…”
This is the 4th speaking angel, and he speaks even louder than the first 3, because he is “crying with a loud voice.” He comes from the Temple, i.e. the SDA Church. These are those SDAs who accept the 4th Angel’s Message, and thus sound the warning message in the Church, before they take it to the world (during the Loud Cry time).
6. IS THERE A 4TH ANGEL’S MESSAGE?
Rev. 18:1 – “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.”
Vol.6 Testimonies p. 60 – “The third angel’s message is to be given with power. The power of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified in the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly messenger who unites with the third angel (Rev 18:1 quoted).”
Early Writings 277 (EW 277) – “Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory…The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry…This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel’s message in 1844.”
Vol. 6 Testimonies p. 406 (6T.406) – “We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory.
7. THE GREATEST QUESTION OF THE DAY IS:
Will the message of this Angel be allowed to do its work? Shall all the SDA Church members find, listen and accept it?
2SM 114 – “A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God’s people. But divisions will come in the (SDA) church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and the tares grow up together for the harvest.” () supplied for emphasis.
EW 270 – “Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people.
RH May 27, 1890 /June 25, 1901 – “The light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory…The message God sends through His servants will be scorned and derided by unfaithful shepherds…”
TM 233 – “Many who hear the message by far the greatest number will not credit the solemn warning…The Lord’s servants will be called enthusiasts. Ministers will warn the people not to listen to them.”
So, what then will the Lord do next?
Amos 9:9-10 – “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as [corn] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
Ezek. 9:1-6 – “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was] clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which [had] the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house…”
RH March 28, 1893 – “The destroying angel is soon to go forth again, not to destroy the first born alone, but to sly utterly both old and young, both men and women, and little children, who have not the mark.”
LETTER 31A, 1894 – “The time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezek. (will be fulfilled, that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter…”
LETTER 106, Spt. 26, 1909 – “Study the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled, yet the time is passing and the people are asleep”
The Unbelievable / unexpected will happen! The Judgment of the Living in the House of God!
8. AGAIN – ANOTHER ANGEL!
Rev. 14:17-18 – “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.’ ”
NOTE: Since the first “another angel…having a sharp sickle…” comes to harvest after Jesus has harvested, shows two harvests – 1. By Jesus – yielding the 1st Fruits (from the Church – the 144000), 2. By “another Angel” – yielding the 2nd Fruits (from the world – the Great Multitude). This is a further proof that Jesus’ coming in Rev.14:14 is not the 2nd coming, because, who can remain on earth to be harvested by an Angel after Jesus’ 2nd Coming? This other Angel who cries with a “loud cry,” represents the message (of the 144000), and the very Angel with a sharp sickle is a symbol of the 144000. To repeat – the Angel who harvests represents the work of the 144000 in the world (Loud Cry period). The Angel comes from the Alter (of the re-organized SDA Church in the Loud Cry time) – means the 144000 becomes the leaders of the Church that time, having power over fire i.e. will have the Pentecostal Power of the Holy Spirit in that Loud Cry time.
Isa. 41:13-16 – “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, [and] shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.”
5 T. 80 – “But the days of the purification of the Church are hastening apace. God will have a people pure and true: The Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly purge His floor.”
1 T. 100 – “The Church must be purged and it will be… Oh, that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to do among His professed people!”
T.M. 414 – “The purging and cleansing will surely pass through every church in our Land…
Letter 55, 1886 (3SM 385) – “The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God had not appointed and He will have a pure, true sanctified ministry prepared for the Latter rain.”
THIS OUR LORD’S AGENDA – THIS IS HOW HE WILL PERFORM THE JUDGMENT OF THE LIVING – STARTING WITH HIS CHURCH – WITH US, AND MAKE THE SEALED 144 000 FINISH THE WORK IN THE WORLD WITH GREAT POWER.
END OF LESSON
Glory to God!