The Three Angels’ Messages of Rev 14

By Fransisco Msonge (MD), 2022

CONTENT

  • Introduction
  • The first angel  message (Rev 14:6-7)
  • The second angel message (Rev 14:8)
  • The third angel message (Rev 14: 9-12)

INTRODUCTION

The Three Angels’ Messages are God’s special messages for last-day generations. This article is a summary of the biblical interpretation of (Revelation 14: 6-12). This threefold message is “centered on Jesus Christ”, with its main themes being: creation, worship, and judgment, it is also a prophetic message that has been unfolding as we edge the end of the world. This threefold message of revelation needs to be closely studied, so It’s important to read this article to the end to get a fully biblical understanding of the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14: 6-12).

Rev 14: 6-12 KJV

6 “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,

7 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.

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.

9 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,

10 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:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”.

The three angel’s messages

  • The three angels messages are messages proclaimed at the end of the period of 2300 years (Daniel 8:13–14), up to the time of the sixth plague (Rev. 16:12–16), shortly before Jesus Christ’s Second Advent as King of Kings.
  • The three angels’ messages are a call and pivotal message to all humanity. Both Christian and non-christian are to respond to these three cosmic messages which are about a “True God“, a “True Church“, and a “True Worship“.
  • The three angels messages are the “closing work of the gospel” and “the present truth” for today’s mankind. All three angels messages are linked together; there cannot be a third without the first and second. The combination of these three messages is the final appeal of God to this world.
  • Because it’s a gospel to be preached to humanity in this sinful word, and it’s about our salvation. This gospel can`t be preached among us with actual heavenly angles, these angels symbolize the people of God (a movement), to whom has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. These messages call for men to make their final decision between truth and error and prepare to stand before the judgment seat of God.
  • The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance, the destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.
  • The three angels’ messages are proclaimed by God’s people to counter the “Dragon” (Satan) and his end-time allies: the “Beast“, which represents Papal Authority; and the “False prophet, or lamblike beast“, representing apostate Protestantism (Revelation 16: 12-16, 13: 11-14)

THE FIRST ANGEL MESSAGE (REV 14:6-7)

Everlasting gospel

  • The message of the first angel, having the “Everlasting Gospel,” calls upon all nations to fear God, give glory to Him, and worship Him as the Creator. Romans 1:16; Mark 13:10
  • Proclaims the everlasting gospel: That is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ — His justifying and sanctifying power (Ephesians 2: 8-10)
  • Many, having forgotten God, therefore, our allegiance must be called back to our Maker.

Fear God

  • The call to worship God as Creator automatically places upon people the responsibility of being “Obedient” and to observe the day that honors His creative act (“The Sabbath”, “The ten commandment”), read John 14:15,21, John 15:10,1John 2: 3-5, John 5:2-3, Romans 6: 1-2,15 and Exodus 20: 1-17
  • The Greek New Testament word for “fear” in Revelation 14:7 is phobeo. It is used here not in the sense of being afraid of God but in the sense of reverence, awe, and respect. It conveys the thought of absolute loyalty to God and full surrender to His will. It is an attitude of mind that is God-centered rather than self-centered. It is the opposite of Lucifer’s attitude in (Isaiah 14:13-14) .
  • Instead, it is the attitude of Christ, who, though “being in the form of God . . . humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6- 8).
  • These passages (Deuteronomy 6:2; Psalm 119:73-74; and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) reveal a linkage between fearing God and keeping His commandments. Fearing God is an attitude of reverential respect that leads us to obedience.
  • Fearing God comes by faith, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life and the way to depart from the snares of death (Heb 11:6, Psa 115:11, Prov 8:13, 14:27 KJV)
  • Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV; “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”
  • Heaven’s urgent appeal is for those saved by grace to be obedient to God’s commands (Eph. 2:8–10 KJV). Grace does not free us from obeying the commands of God. The gospel (Romans 8:1-2 KJV) sets us free from the law’s condemnation, not from our responsibility to obey it.
  • Grace not only delivers us from the guilt of our past, but it also empowers us to live godly, obedient lives in the present. The apostle Paul declares that “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name” (Rom. 1:5, KJV).
  • There are some people who have the strange idea that salvation by grace somehow negates the law of God or minimizes the necessity for obedience. They believe that any talk about obedience is legalism. They have declared, “All I want is Jesus.” The question is, which Jesus? A Jesus of our own making, or the Jesus of Scripture?
  • The Christ of Scripture never leads us to downplay His law, which is the transcript of His character. The Christ of Scripture never leads us to minimize the doctrines of the Bible, which reveal more clearly who He is and His plan for this world.
  • Christ is the center of all true doctrines, and all true religion is found in His word. True religion is nothing short of conformity to the will of God, and obedience to all things that He has commanded, which in return, it gives us spiritual life, imputes to us the righteousness of Christ. We have only to obey and believe and His commandments are not grievous, obedience to His requirements is essential to worship the Creator.

Give Glory to God

  • Glory is a word used in the Bible to describe God’s eternal splendor and majesty. God is described as a sovereign king whose kingdom extends over all the earth and universe. God created people in His image to share in His glory, and He endowed them with gifts, enabling them to honor Him with their lives.
  • Psalm 19:1 KJV “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Revelation 4:11 KJV “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
  • A careful and thorough biblical study of the phrase “give glory to God”(Rev 14:7) in the Old Testament shows that, it appears in the context of divine judgment (Josh. 7:19; 1 Sam. 6:5; Jer. 13:15-16; Mal. 2:2), just as it does in the first angel’s message, as well (Rev. 14:7).
  • This idea is seen, too, in (Revelation 19:1-2) KJV “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”  
  • According to the apostle Paul, our bodies are a sanctuary, the dwelling place of the Spirit of God, a temple made holy by the presence of God. The Scriptures give us a clarion call to glorify God in every aspect of our lives.
  • When God is the center of our lives, our one desire is to give glory to Him, whether through our diet, our dress, our entertainment, or our interaction with others. We give glory to God as we reveal His character of love to the world through our commitment to doing His will. This is even more important in the light of earth’s end-time judgment.

The hour of his Judgment

The First Angel message points to the time of judgment, “The hour of judgment is come”, the pre-second advent judgment, read;  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Romans 14:12,1 Peter 4:5,17-19, Revelation 20: 12, 2Corinthians 5:9-11, Matthew 12: 36, Revelation 3:5, Acts 3:19 and Isaiah 33: 22.

1 Peter 4:17 KJV. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 KJV. “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

Revelation 20:12 KJV “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

Revelation 3:5 KJV “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Isaiah 33: 22 KJV “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us”.

  • The gospel and the judgment, both parts of the first angel’s message, are inseparably intertwined. Were it not for the “everlasting gospel,” we would have no hope in the judgment.
  • The cross and judgment both reveal that God is just and merciful. The broken law demands the death of the sinner. Justice declares, “The wages of sin is death.” Mercy responds, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
  • If God’s law could be changed or abolished, it would be totally unnecessary for Jesus to die. Christ’s death establishes the eternal nature of the law, and the law is the basis of judgment.
  • The subject of the sanctuary and the pre-second advent judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. Everyone needs a knowledge of the position and work of our High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for us to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designed us to fill.
  • Cleansing the heavenly Sanctuary: Leviticus 16:29-31, 1John 1:9, Acts 3:19, Daniel 8:14, Hebrews 9:11-12, and Hebrews 9:23-26.
  • Leviticus 16:29-31 (KJV)
  • “And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you. For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.”
  • 1 John 1:9 (KJV) reads “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
  • Acts 3:19 (KJV) “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
  • Daniel 8:14 (KJV) “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
  • Daniel 8:14 (KJV) says that at the end of the 2300 years, the sanctuary will be cleansed. And this date brought us to the year 1844 ACE.  The 1844 date is derived from the application of the day-year principle to Daniel 8:14. According to this principle, the 2300 days in Daniel 8:14 are 2300 years.
  • The starting year for calculating 1844 is seen as the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem by Artaxerxes in 457 BCE on the basis of (Daniel 9:24–27).
  • Thus, in 1844, the heavenly sanctuary was to be cleansed. Which is the anti-type of the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), and the Day of Atonement in the OT was the cleansing of the sanctuary both in the holy place and the most holy.
  • Jesus was serving in the holy place after he ascended to heaven (Hebrews 9:11-12). In 1844, when the sanctuary was to be cleansed, Jesus moved from the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary into the most holy place (the Holy of Holies) to begin a final atonement for humanity (Hebrews 9:23-26). Since then, Christ has been serving in the most holy place in heaven as a barrister, confessor, and intercessor between us and God, and His mercy and justice abound with each one of us.
  • Jesus Christ the saviour, our Highest Priest, is cleansing (judging) the “heavenly sanctuary”. Jesus Christ, our Highest Priest, is atoning the heavenly sanctuary. This is the pre-second advent judgment, a divine judgment of professed Christians and all humanity that has been in progress since 1844. Jeremiah 17: 10 reads “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
  • Jesus is nearing the end of this judgment before he can come to earth, that is why from this time, 1844 onwards, there is no more time prophecy. Jesus is coming again.  The bible says: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22:12, KJV). “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matth 16:27, KJV).

THE SECOND ANGEL MESSAGE (REV 14:8)

Babylon

  • Ancient City: The early root of the word “Babel” is found in (Genesis 10, 11) and its described with the Tower of Babel in the land of Shinar during the Nimrod era (Genesis 10: 8-12, 1 Chronicles 1:10).
  • Babylonian Empire: Jeremiah 50,51 and Daniel 2 describe the Babylonian Empire (also called the Chaldean Empire). Babylon continued its reign until 536 BC. Nebuchadnezzar, its greatest king, reigned in the days of Daniel.
  • Prophet Isaiah portrayed this Babylon as a “Woman” “The Lady of Kingdoms” (Isaiah 47: 1-5) who should be tender and delicate but she is not. This fallen literal Babylon(Daniel 5:25-28) is described as a city of pride and idolatry, a dwelling of false deities, and a supporter of tyranny.
  • Spiritual Babylon: Revelation 14:8, 16:19, 17:5 and 18:2 the word Babylon represent – “A Religious System”, “A Religious Babylon”, “A Rebellious church”. The mother of harlots and abominations of the Earth.
  • The term Babylon, derived from Babel, and signifying confusion, is applied in scripture to the various forms of false or apostate religion. Throughout the bible and protestants history, Babylon is a symbol of the  Roman Catholic church (Rev 13:1-10, 17:1-18,18:1-10).
  • A Christian body whose leaders at worst reject the elements of Bible truth and persecuted Christians who chose to believe and follow the biblical truth.
  • Babylon’s daughters are Protestant churches which like the Roman church, reject Bible truth and harass those who accept it (Rev 17: 1-6, Isaiah 4:1).

The second angel’s message wants us to know Babylon and to completely stay away from her Babylonian teachings. Babylon here (Rev14:8) it’s a “religious Babylon” it’s a rebellious church. In Revelation and prophecy, the woman represents the “Church”. Let’s read 2 Corinthians 11:2, Jeremiah 6:2, Ephesians 5:23-32 and Revelation 12:1, 17, 19;7-8

We find two women in the revelation, the two symbolic women are diametrical opposites; The first (Revelation 12) represents those who have been God’s covenant people—the “Church of God”—both Old Testament and the New Testament called-out servants of Christ, the pure woman, the “pure church”

The second woman is represented as a harlot, a great city, and a rebellious church (Revelation 17). This harlot woman is a church, a religious system that was not and is not obedient to Christ.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and diligent bible studies with the present vivid world history, Babylon represents “the Roman Catholic Church”. Here we have seven biblical characteristics as to why the Roman Catholic Church is “Babylon” and the “Great City” which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth (Rev 17:18). Both seven characteristics are needed for the Roman Catholic Church or another church (if any) to be Babylon.

 BIBLICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BABYLONBIBLE VERSESROMAN CATHOLIC
1Sitteth upon many watersRev 17:1b, 17:15Fulfilled
2Sit upon a scarlet coloured beastRev 17:3,13:2,12:3-4Fulfilled
3Dresses in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearlsRev 17:4aFulfilled
4Has a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornicationRev 17: 4b, 17:2,14:8Fulfilled
5Upon her forehead has a name, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The EarthRev 17:5, 14:8Fulfilled
6Sitteth on the seven mountainsRev 17:9,17:18Fulfilled
7Has strong influential relationships with highest political leaders, social circles and merchants of the earthRev 17: 18, 17:9-13, 18:1-3.Fulfilled

Fallen-fallen

  • The first “Fallen” in (Rev 14:8) stand for fallen Babylon (The Mother Church – Roman Catholic Church) and the Second “Fallen” stand for fallen Daughters (Apostate Protestant churches).

The Wine of Babylon

  • Wine represents falsehood and deception (Micah 2:11; Isa. 28:7).
  • Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines—the wine of error, the wine of Babylon. This wine of Babylon is made up of false doctrines such as the immortality of the soul, offering sacrifices for the deceased, praying for and to the deceased saints, believing in purgatory, child baptism, sacraments as efficacious signs of grace through which divine life is given, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God’s holy, sanctified day-the seventh-day Sabbath.
  • These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various, churches, and thus the Scriptures are fulfilled that says, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
  • Fornication here implies: not being obedient and unfaithful to Jesus Christ’s original principle of love or creating and practicing unbiblical way of worship and salvation.  The Scriptures often represent the relationship of Christ and the church as a marriage (Isaiah 54: 5, Ephesians 5: 21-25, Rev. 19:6-9, 2Corinth 11:2).
  • Jesus Christ the “Creator” is identified as the “Husband” to the “Church”. These texts suggest that not being obedient to the scriptures, unfaithfulness to Jesus, or substitution with some other “creator” would be fornication.
  • The message of the second angel announces the fall of Babylon because they rejected the message of the first angel and denounces the corruption of the Protestant churches which are following the example of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Although the fall of Babylon began in 1844, it is a gradual process and will not be complete until (1) these apostate churches unite fully with Roman Catholic church and with the world, accepting and believing the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church and world principles (2) the churches reject the three angel`s messages of Revelation 14 and accept the strong delusions and lying wonders presented by Satan
  • The contemporary ecumenical movement for Protestants is often said to have started with the 1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference. However, this conference would not have been possible without the pioneering ecumenical work of the Christian youth movements. New World Encyclopedia: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ecumenism
  • So it is important remember that the contemporary ecumenical movement for Protestants is rooted and originated from the Young Men’s Christian Association (founded 1844), the Young Women’s Christian Association (founded 1855) and the World Student Christian Federation (founded 1895). New World Encyclopedia: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ecumenism
  • The message “Babylon is fallen” is repeated in (Revelation 18:1-4). God’s people who are still in Babylon are called out so that they will not be guilty of participating in her sins and will not receive the plagues to be poured out upon her.

THE THIRD ANGEL MESSAGE (REV 14: 9-12)

  • The first and second messages were given from 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
  • The whole of the gospel is embraced in the third angel’s message, and in all our work the truth is to be presented as it is in Jesus. In the preaching of the word the first and most important thing is to melt and subdue the soul by presenting the Lord Jesus Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour
  • The third angel’s message (Rev. 14:9-12) is a warning: “Do not worship the beast or receive his mark.” Those who disregard this warning will face judgment and punishment. Notice the word “worship,” again linked with judgment. To worship the beast rather than God would be spiritual fornication.
  • The mark of the beast is a sign of spiritual fornication and a spiritual fall. This fall comes as a result of the rejection of the message of the first angel: worship God the Creator.

 A Loud Voice

  • Prophecy declares that the first angel would make his announcement to ‘every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’ The warning of the third angel, which forms a part of the same threefold message, is to be no less widespread.
  • The third angel message is represented in the prophecy as being proclaimed with a loud voice, by an angel flying in the midst of heaven; because it is a message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and it commands the attention of the world.

The beast

The terms “beast” and “little horn” have the same biblical characteristics, and they all mean and represent the same authority. We have to ask God to be able to understand the authority represented by the little horn and the beast, as in the midst of confusion it is hard to know the truth. The authors of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 are not far behind in explaining the meaning of the word “beast.”.

Because the contents of the book of Daniel are similar to those in the revelation of John in the New Testament. These two books complement each other in an extraordinary way and serve as sources of knowledge about the prophecies and history of this world.

The terms “little horn” and “beast” have great meaning for true Christians (Rev 14:12) and heavenly hosts. Throughout the Bible and Protestant history, the beast represents the “Papacy”, the Roman Catholic Church authority. Let us use the scriptures to see why the papal authority is the beast with eyes and a mouth that spoke great things and whose appearance was more powerful than any other (Dan. 7:20b) and the horn whose dominion will last until the end of history and will not be destroyed before the judgment of the world (Dan. 7:26).

Reading the Bible with an open mind in the presence of the Holy Spirit, here down we have nine intertwined biblical characteristics of the beast in Revelation (Rev 14:6–12), which makes the “Papal Authority” the beast. Both nine biblical characteristics are needed for the Papacy or other authority (if any) to be the beast of Revelation 14.

 BIBLICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEASTBIBLE VERSESPAPACY
1Arose from fourth Beast out of 10 horns.Dan 7: 8,24Fulfilled
2Made up of religious and secular components.Dan 7:8, 20,24Fulfilled
3Attained its authority and power in the 6th –century (538ACE)  2Thessa 2: 7-8Fulfilled
4Speaks great things and blasphemies against God.Dan 7: 20,25 Rev 13:5-6Fulfilled
5Made war and persecuted God’s peopleDan 7: 25, Rev 13: 5-7Fulfilled
6Tried to change times and God`s Laws.Dan 7:25Fulfilled
7Reigned for 1260 years ( 538 – 1798) ACEDan 7: 25, Rev 13: 5-7Fulfilled
8Got wounded to death and deadly wound was healed.Rev 13: 1-4Fulfilled
9Named and titled; Vicarius Filii  Dei equal to human number 666.Rev 13:18Fulfilled

Through the scripture and world history, the Papacy has and fits into all nine biblical features of the beast of Revelation 14. The staying power of the beast and its empire leads to worship of the dragon and the beast. The dragon is worshiped for giving authority to the beast. The beast is worshiped because of his so-called resurrection. He is considered incomparable and omnipotent, like God (Ex. 15:11; Ps. 89:7). People worship the beast, believing he cannot be resisted or overcome. As has often been observed in history, people support a winner.

The Image of the Beast

  • The ‘image to the beast’ represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas-including the mark of the beast-Sunday keeping.
  • This will start in United states, in order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends. “The Church and State unit”.
  • This is evidently happening already, and soon it will be a complete unit (church and state). The apostate Protestant churches are craving and demanding to unite with the civil power of the world. Soon the professed Protestant churches in America and then the world churches will be completely under Jesuit doctrines and principles and the Papal Authority’s control (The Beast of Rev 14:6–12). Then these apostate Protestant churches, with the civil power of the world, will speak for the pope; they will do all the bidding of the pope.
  • When the Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution; when the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church–then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy (The Image of the Beast).
  • The so called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink the wine of wrath of her fornication.
  • The Word of God plainly declares that His law is to be scorned, trampled upon, by the world; there will be an extraordinary prevalence of iniquity. The professed Protestant world will form a confederacy with the man of sin (papacy), and the church and the world will be in corrupt harmony. The Scriptures teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy, and that the fires of persecution will be rekindled through the time-serving concessions of the so-called Protestant world.

The Mark of the Beast.

  • Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will, teaches and guides believers into all biblical truth; Read John14:26,16:7-8, 16:13-15,1Corinth 3:16, and Romans 8:26-27. The sealing act is done by the presence of the holy spirit in us (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 2Corinth 1: 20-22).
  • The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives makes us abide by all biblical truth and manifest the character of our Lord God-Jesus Christ – His divine laws of love. (This is sealing and to be sealed)
  • The Holy Spirit is the true Vicar of Christ: Not only does He bring the message about Christ, He brings the very presence of Christ. Christ’s promises; “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5) and “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20) are realized through the Spirit. By faith, the Holy Spirit makes us obedient to the Ten Commandments- The mirror of God`s Character.
  • The Holy Spirit that makes us break and trample on the holy laws of God is not of God the creator. Speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, and many other wonderful works are not necessarily signs that we have the true and heavenly Holy Spirit in us or that we are sealed. Unless our lives are in harmony with the scriptures (Matthew 7:21–27, Isaiah 8:20) and manifest the character of Jesus Christ—His divine laws of love.
  • Proverbs 28:9 KJV reads, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” (Proverbs 7:2) KJV.
  • Sin is the transgression of the law of God and those who will not accept the light in regard to the law of God will not understand the proclamation of the first, second and third angels messages.
  • The ten commandments were the heart of the old testament, and the ten commandments are the heart of the New Testament (Hebrews 8: 7-10, 1Corinthians 7:19-20, 1 John 2: 3-5, Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14, John14:15, Romans 6: 14-15) because both testaments are just one perpetual covenant for our salvation and that is why Jesus Christ died on the cross, that is why we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2: 8-10). Our God, the Creator, is holy and a sin-hating God.
  • God’s seal is placed right within the heart of His law. Of all the ten commandments, Satan hates and attacks the fourth commandment with great power and great fury, because it identifies and clearly shows who God is, and it has all three elements that constitute God`s seal. The fourth commandment has; The NAME of God: The Lord Your God; The TITLE of God: Creator; The TERRITORY of God: Heaven and Earth (Exodus 20:8-11)
  • The Lord’s Day: According to both Old and New Testament Scriptures, “the Lord’s Day” is “Saturday”, the fourth commandment, the seventh-day Sabbath, and not “Sunday”, the first day of the week. Read Revelation 1:10, Exodus 20:8–10, Isaiah 58:13, and Matthew 12:8.
  • The third angel’s message points to the “Seal of God”: The sign, or seal, of God (Exod 20: 8-11, Gen 2:2-4, Exod 31: 12-18, Ezek 20: 11-13, Luke 4:14-16, Mark 2:27-28, Hebrews 4: 9-10 and Rev 7:1-3) is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation (Exod 20: 8-11) and a perpetual covenant. The mark of the beast is the opposite of this– It is the observance of the first day of the week (Sunday) as the Sabbath.
  • Every living soul needs to understand what is the mark of the beast and to know what constitutes the beast and his image. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God
  • Hence the closing message, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God…….” (Rev 14:12)

The third angel identifies the remnant people of God (Rev 14: 12) by the following three main biblical characteristics:

(1) The patience of saints; which is developed under temptations and tribulations. Romans 5:3, 4; James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7.

(2) Keeping the commandments of God; including the seventh-day Sabbath, “The Sabbath” which is the seal of the living God and the special sign between Him and His people. Mark 2:27; Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 16:17; James 2:10-12.

(3) Upholding the faith of Jesus; which is the everlasting gospel and faith in His power to save to the uttermost those who accept Him as their personal Saviour. Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 2:8.

  • Observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is based on the biblical account of the six-day creation (Ex.20:11). By observing “The Sabbath”, we witness and give evidence of our acceptance of the first angel’s message: worship the Creator. By worshiping on Sabbath we witness that we accept the Bible as the ultimate authority. By worshiping on Sabbath we testify that we accept salvation by grace alone, based only on the merits of Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice
  • The three angel’s message reveals Jesus as Creator, Advocate in judgment, and Redeemer. This is why the Genesis creation account is so important. Genesis presents the most detailed account given in Scripture of the creation of our world. The creation account is the basis for worship of God, the reason for His authority in judgment, and the contentious issue behind the mark of the beast. The creation record in Genesis is a unifying theme of the three angels’ messages.
  • The third angel’s message is a strong warning against worshipping the beast and his image and receiving the mark of the beast (deliberate Sunday-keeping). “The papacy has attempted to change the law of God. The second commandment, forbidding image worship, has been dropped from the law, and the fourth commandment has been so changed as to authorize the observance of the first instead of the seventh day as the Sabbath.
  • John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast

The Roman Catholic Mark of Authority.

Observance of the first day of the week (Sunday-keeping) as the Sabbath is the mark of the Roman Catholic Church, is the mark of Papal authority and is the mark of the beast. Read and digest the following few quotes.

When Emperor Constantine I—a pagan sun-worshipper—came to power in A.D. 313, he legalized Christianity and made the first Sunday-keeping law. His infamous Sunday enforcement law of March 7, A.D. 321, reads as follows: “On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed.” (Codex Justinianus 3.12.3, trans. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 5th ed. (New York, 1902), 3:380, note 1.)

The Sunday law was officially confirmed by the Roman Papacy. The Council of Laodicea in A.D. 364 decreed, “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ” (Strand, op. cit., citing Charles J. Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church, 2 [Edinburgh, 1876] 316).

 “I acknowledge the holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church as the mother and mistress of all churches, and I promise and swear (spondeo ac juro) true obedience to the Bishop of Rome, as the successor of St. Peter, prince of the Apostles, and as the vicar of Jesus Christ.”- Art 10, Creed  of  Pope  Pius IV. Double  Bull of  Pope  Pius IV . Nov .13 and Dec. 9,1564 , trans  in  Philip  Schaff,  The  Creed  of  christendon , New   York : Harper ,1919, Vol 1, p. 99

“If the church of Rome were ever guilty of idolatry in relation to the saints, her daughter, the church of England, stands guilty of the same, which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one dedicated to Christ” – Catholic Christian Instructed in Sacraments, Sacrifice, Ceremonies and Observance of Church, p 18, 1878, by Richard Challoner.

They “dispense with the command of Christ???” When the Catholic church is asked…“Why do you feel you have the power, authority and ability to change Scripture to match your traditions?” They answer…

“Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; –she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.“ –Rev. Stephan Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism, “On the Obedience Due to the Church,” chap. 2, p. 174.(Imprimatur, John Cardinal McCloskey, archbishop of New York.)

“The authority of the church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the Church had changed…the Sabbath into Sunday, not by command of Christ, but by its own authority.”Canon and Tradition, p. 263

 “Is not every Christian obliged to sanctify Sunday and to abstain on that day from unnecessary servile work?. Is not the observance of this law among the most prominent of our sacred duties? But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.” –James Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers (1917 ed.), pp. 72, 73

Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters. —C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895..

Sunday is a Catholic institution, and… can be defended only on Catholic principles…. From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first.—Catholic Press, Aug. 25, 1900.

The transformation of God’s “Commandments” is a “Mark” of the authority and power of the Papacy. God instituted the seventh-day Sabbath, for His people, and the papacy changed to Sunday, the first day, to mark it authority.  The papal authority directly records having this power, to change the holy law

The Protestant world affirmation

1.The Anglican Church

And where are we told in the Scriptures that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day… The reason why we keep the first day of the week holy instead of the seventh is for the same reason that we observe many other things, not because the Bible, but because the Church, has enjoined it.—Isaac Williams, Plain Sermons on the Catechism, pages 334, 336.

2.The Lutheran Church

The observance of the Lord’s Day (Sunday) is founded not on any command of God, but on the authority of the Church.” Augsburg Confession of Faith.

They [the Catholics] allege the Sabbath changed into Sunday, the Lord’s day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it appears, neither is there any example more boasted of than the changing of the Sabbath day. Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with one of the Ten Commandments—Augsburg Confession of Faith, Art. 28, par. 9.

3.The Church of England

Many people think that Sunday is the Sabbath. But neither in the New Testament nor in the early church is there anything to suggest that we have any right to transfer the observance of the seventh day of the week to the first. The Sabbath was and is Saturday and not Sunday, and if it were binding on us then we should observe it on that day, and on no other.—Rev. Lionel Beere, All-Saints Church, Ponsonby, N.Z. in Church and People, Sept. 1, 1947.

4.The Baptist Church

There was and is a command to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will however be readily said, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week, with all its duties, privileges and sanctions. Earnestly desiring information on this subject, which I have studied for many years, I ask, where can the record of such a transaction be found: Not in the New Testament – absolutely not. There is no scriptural evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the seventh to the first day of the week.—Dr. E. T. Hiscox, author of the ‘Baptist Manual’.

5.The Prebyterian Church

God instituted the Sabbath at the creation of man, setting apart the seventh day for the purpose, and imposed its observance as a universal and perpetual moral obligation upon the race.—American Presbyterian Board of Publication, Tract No. 175. The observance of the seventh-day Sabbath did not cease till it was abolished after the [Roman] empire became Christian, …—American Presbyterian Board of Publication, Tract No. 118.

6.The Methodist Church

The reason we observe the first day instead of the seventh is based on no positive command. One will search the Scriptures in vain for authority for changing from the seventh day to the first. The early Christians began to worship on the first day of the week because Jesus rose from the dead on that day. By and by, this day of worship was made also a day of rest, a legal holiday. This took place in the year 321.

The reason we observe the first day instead of the seventh is based on no positive command. One will search the Scriptures in vain for authority for changing from the seventh day to the first… Our Christian Sabbath, therefore, is not a matter of positive command. It is a gift of the church…—CLOVIS G. CHAPPELL, Ten Rules for Living, page 61.

7.The Episcopalian Church

We have made the change from the seventh day to the first day, from Saturday to Sunday, on the authority of the one holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church of Christ.—Bishop Symour, Why We keep Sunday.

The three phases of the Mark of the Beast

The mark of the beast, observance of a false day of worship, is an institution that clearly sets forth the authority of the beast. One church boldly boasts that it has changed the seventh-day Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Other churches indicate they worship on Sunday as a memorial of Christ’s resurrection. Neither assertion is biblical.

It is important to understand and remember that the mark of the beast (Sunday-keeping) will come and be employed in three phases: the agitation phase, the registration phase, and the enforcement phase. We are in the “agitation phase” and about to start the second phase: the registration phase and then enforcement. The speed of events from agitation to enforcement is rapid and will be more rapid in a few years to come.

1.The agitation phase:

Notice it’s always upon the first day of week-Sunday, “A man-made Sabbath” upon which everything is directed and chosen for health and family. On 2008 the Catholic Communication Network of England and Wales issued a press release making a connection between the financial crisis and Sunday rest.  The Bishops called for respect for Sunday rest as one of the foundations of the European social model and as a way of balancing work and family life.

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) gave  its support to a proposal introduced into the European Parliament on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the European Social Model and as part of the European cultural heritage.

Rome is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. Rome is working with every possible organization to achieve her goals. They are working in the name of secular purposes, but their real purpose is to impose religious law- Sunday worship-the mark of the beast. Under the name of climate change and family life this will be achieved.

The agitation phase is soon ending; we have many organizations and climate activists demanding for Sunday rest and Sunday law registration. Most of the so called Protestants, Pentecost and Charismatic churches under the papist are calling and demanding for Sunday law. Under the papacy and Jesuit we have a network of Sunday alliances, trade unions, social organizations and religious communities both with the common themes; “Common Good”, “Mother Earth” and “Family life” demanding for a work-free Sunday (Sunday rest).

Here are just few examples of these organizations and alliances: Day One Christian Ministries, formerly known as the Lord’s Day Observance Society (LDOS), a Christian organisation that lobbies for no work on Sunday, a day of rest. It was founded by Joseph Wilson and Daniel Wilson in 1831. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), an international temperance organization founded in 1874.  The Lord’s Day Alliance (formerly known as the American Sabbath Union), an ecumenical Christian first-day Sabbatarian organization founded in 1888, and The European Sunday Alliance, a coalition of national Sunday alliances, trade unions, civil society organizations and faith communities established in 2011.

Mark of the Beast on forehead or hand

Revelation 14: 9-10 “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. …….”:  Indicating that this mark is due to ones worship. We have seen that the mark of the beast is observance of a false day of worship-Sunday.

     “The Bible says, Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. The Catholic church says, No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep the first day of the week. And lo, the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic church!” Father Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redemptoral College, Kansas City, Mo., History of the Sabbath, p. 802

  • The forehead and hand indicate that the mark of the beast (Sunday-keeping) is accepted and will be received through our mind and our work. It is through our faculty of consciousness and thought where choices are made.
  • The forehead includes the cerebrum and other structures. The cerebrum (front of the brain) is the largest part of the brain, the cerebrum initiates and coordinates movement and regulates temperature. Other areas of the cerebrum enable speech, judgment, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, emotions and learning. Other functions relate to vision, hearing, touch and other senses.
  • Proverbs 4: 23 says “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”. Romans 12 :2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
  • Satan is constantly presenting inducements to God’s chosen people to attract their minds from the solemn work of preparation for the scenes just in the future. He is in every sense of the word a deceiver, a skillful charmer. He clothes his plans and snares with coverings of light borrowed from heaven
  • The central issue in Earth’s final conflict is a battle for the mind. It really is one of allegiance, authority, and commitment to God’s will.
  • The final battle in the great controversy is between good and evil for control of our thoughts. The apostle Paul gives us this admonition: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). The mind is the citadel of our being. It is the wellspring of our actions.
  • The word “let” means to allow or to choose. It speaks of a volitional act of the will. The choice to have the mind of Christ is the choice to allow Jesus to shape our thinking by filling our minds with the things of eternity. Our actions reveal where our thinking process is. To fear God is to make Him first in our lives.

Revelation 13:15-17 says  “…..And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”. Read more Rev 13.

The second way we receive and will receive the mark of the beast is through our “Work” (Jobs, school, business,). A time is soon and very soon coming when no one will be able to work or do ordinary necessary daily activities of life unless we accept and receive the mark of the beast (Sunday keeping)

The day is coming, and possibly sooner than we think, that laws will be passed restricting our religious liberty. Those who conscientiously follow the Word of God and keep the true Sabbath of the Lord will be labeled as opposing the society unity, the common good and Mother Nature (Mother Earth)

“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.”

  • The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. This will be a decisive time for God’s children, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.
  • The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that no man may buy or sell, save he that has the mark of the beast, and, finally, that whoever refuses to receive the mark shall be put to death.(Rev. 13:15-17).
  • Apostate religious leaders will be filled with anger as they are unable to refute scriptural evidence for the sacredness of Saturday, and Sabbath keepers will be persecuted and imprisoned. Amid these events the proclamation of the third message will have a powerful effect as people see prophecy being fulfilled exactly as commandment keepers said it would.
  • The word of God declares: “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.” (Rev. 14:9-10). But not one is made to feel the wrath of God until the truth has been brought in contact with his mind and conscience, and has been rejected.
  • The fourth commandment contains three elements of an authentic seal. First, there is the name of the sealer: “The Lord your God”. Second, there is the title of the sealer: the Lord who made; “the Creator”. And third, there is the territory of the sealer: “the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them”.
  • According to (Revelation 7: 1-3) the seal of God is placed only on our foreheads, a symbol of our minds. Jesus respects our freedom of choice. He invites us to let Him shape our minds by His Holy Spirit so that we cannot be moved from the anchor of our faith in the Word of God(Eph 4: 30). Thus, we understand that the faithful are those who “keep the commandments of God, and [have] the faith of Jesus” (Rev 14: 12), and included in those commandments is the fourth, the one commandment the beast power thought to change (Dan 7: 25).

The Faith of Jesus

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). This is the depiction of God’s faithful people in the last days. Yet, the only way anyone can keep the commandments of God, then or now, is through the faith of Jesus.

  • Notice our text does not say, “faith in Jesus,” although this is an important step in faith. The expression, “the faith of Jesus,” is more important and a higher step in overcoming the wiles of the devil for our salvation.
  • The faith of Jesus: it is the quality of faith that enabled Christ to be victorious over Satan’s fiercest temptations.
  • He faced temptations trusting in the promises of God, surrendering his will to the Father’s will, and depending on the Father’s power. Jesus trusted God, looked to God, and believed in God the Father. (This is the faith of Jesus)
  • We can be victorious because He was victorious. We can triumph over temptation because He triumphed over temptation. Read Hebrews 4:14–16 and Hebrews 7:25.
  • Jesus is our all in all, and the three angels’ messages are all about Him. Revelation’s message is one of victory, not defeat. It speaks of a people who through His grace and by His power overcome.

The word “overcome” in one form or another is used eleven times in the book of Revelation. In the vision of the seven churches representing the Christian church from the first century to our time, there are believers in every generation who, John says, “overcame.” At the end time, those that “overcome” inherit all things (Rev. 21:7).

This is not legalism. It is victory through Jesus Christ, whose perfect life of perfect righteousness, and that alone, is what gives us the promise of eternal life. It is faith in action. It is transforming, life-changing, miraculous grace in the life of the believer.

The third angel’s message, is the message of justification by faith, when the third angel’s message is preached as it should be, power attends its proclamation, and it becomes an abiding influence. It must be attended with divine power, or it will accomplish nothing. The sacrifice of Christ is sufficient; He made a whole, efficacious offering to God; and human effort without the merit of Christ, is worthless. The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be presented to the people with freshness and power, that their faith might lay hold upon its merits.

The third angel’s message is to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It present justification through faith in the Surety; it invite the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world

Amen

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