seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Here's where I got the commentary.To every nation, tribe, tongue, and people: This can be a valid fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 24:14 that the gospel would be preached to all the world before His second coming. But this can never be a valid excuse for neglecting the urgency of missions. God has not given the responsibility for spreading the Gospel to angels, but unto His people.
However, this is the only place in the New Testament where we see angels preaching the Gospel. In God’s sublime wisdom, He has chosen to give that responsibility to people alone, apart from the rarest of exceptions.
If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand: This reminds us that there is a connection between worshipping the beast and his image and receiving his mark on his forehead or on his hand. No one will casually or accidentally take the mark. The connection between worshipping the beast and taking the mark will be clear enough.
Wait... I thought all the Christians were taken up by the time any of this will happen. BUT... look, Jesus hasn't returned yet in the verses. We're still reading about Angels and how they are responding to Jesus opening the Seven Seals. Jesus hasn't mounted His Horse or Unsheathed His Sword yet.
There's still hope. If anyone found themselves in the line for "loving the beast" they have time to drop out. Sure, they'll kill you... but you'll go to Heaven rather than Hell... so, how's that bad?
When people start wearing the mark of the Beast.... You're going to die one way or another. You'll either be forgiven for making horrible decisions, and shown your new abode, or you will be fodder of Hell's Fire.
So... these verses say... there will be three more warnings.... three more chances to move to the winning team.
I hear... those who wait till these three angels do their thing... have to lay around and play the harp all day.... and how fun would that be.... no you can't watch football .... you have a harp to play.... no you can't go down to the translucent river and play with God's trout.... you have a harp to play.
So those who wait too long will still get to Heaven... if they decide BEFORE Jesus gets on His Horse... will still get to Heaven... but they will get the miserable jobs... but hey the worst job in Heaven is better than the best job on earth... right?
Get your decisions straight before the three angels get here.
Three Angels... One Last Chance...
