So much has been written accurately by Adventist authors on Revelation 14 all I need to do here is to narrow it down into a few sentences to remind everyone what this chapter is all about. "The messages of Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they are the everlasting gospel and are to be sounded everywhere." Selected Messages Vol. 2 Page 114. Verse six mentions "another angel." This first angel (messenger) gave a correct warning message to the world prior to 1844, prior to Jesus entering the Most Holy Place in heaven. As mentioned before, the 3 angels flying through heaven are not literal angels. This message was and is being promulgated by people. William Miller, a Baptist preacher in this country during the 1800's began to proclaim the first angels' message around the year 1830. Everyone in North America had a chance to hear his warning message. They may have never heard him preach in person, but everyone on this continent knew of the preacher, farmer, William Miller. Hundreds of Protestant ministers of many denominations in Europe had the identical message in their country, the same message that Miller was so boldly proclaiming in America.
"Christ is coming the second time, with power unto salvation. To prepare human beings for this event, He has sent the first, second, and third angel's messages. These angels represent those who receive the truth, and with power open the gospel to the world." Letter 79, 1900
The second angel is mentioned in verse 8. "And there followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen." Rev. 14:8
This message certainly was given to the world, especially to the fallen Protestant denominations. The Protestants were once pure in heaven's eyes, especially during the years of the reformation. But gradually they let their guard down, to entertain sin instead of resisting it. By the time the pilgrims came to this country the papal church had regained a foothold. What power she lost to the Protestant reformation, inch by inch was regained, until it was absolutely necessary for Heaven to open up the new world. The United States was this haven for religious freedom. This new country broke almost every shackle with Rome. One of the exceptions was in the educational system.
"This long drawn out process (the conferring of Degrees), adding and adding more time, more branches, is one of Satan's snares to keep laborers back... If we had a thousand years before us, such a depth of knowledge would be uncalled for." Special Testimonies On Education 106
This conferring of degrees on man has brought with it much woe and suffering on mankind. Man controlling man, is not heaven's way. "Let my people go." Ex. 5:1 This is heaven's plea today, to everyone with a controlling mind set.
The second-angel's message was given with vigor prior to the beginning of the investigative judgment in Heaven beginning in 1844. Those words about "Babylon is fallen," could not apply to the Roman Church here because she has been in a fallen condition for hundreds of years.
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast..." Rev 14:9. I want to explain this phrase "worship the beast..." but first an overview of what this angel is saying, and it's purpose. "This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish lay before them. Said the angel, 'They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth.'" Early Writings 254. Truer words were never spoken by men or angels so let us determine to take courage and "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10 Since Jesus promised us this assurance, let us determine to be there on that day to receive it.
The whole world is to be tested over the 7th Day Sabbath, versus the man-made Sunday Sabbath. Many now are worshipping blindly and ignorantly, but soon that will change for the honest in heart. Just as soon as they see the truth about the papal power deliberately changing the Sabbath to the first day of the week, they will abandon their former position of Sunday worship. Persecution is secondary to them now. They have always been God's true followers, so it is not difficult to take this additional step in order to obey God in every detail.
In the paragraph above, the papacy was identified as the beast in this 14th chapter. The "image of the beast" is a large class of people (apostate Protestantism) who will use the government to enforce the very laws that they wrote, religious laws contrary to God's Holy Word. Yet, all the while, this "image of the beast" has almost everyone believing that heaven is on their side. It will appear from a human standpoint, and that by the super-human miracles apostate Protestantism will soon be performing, many will believe heaven is supplying this miracle working power. No, Satan and evil angels are performing these miracles. When everyone has seen both sides of the Sunday versus the Sabbath issue and Sunday worship is being enforced by law, then that person will receive the mark of the beast, if they continue Sunday worship.
Hear we are in the spring of 1998 and almost every day in both open and closed door meetings, legislators are being urged forward by the Republicans to amend the constitution and get this law on the books. Penalties will be mild at first for the "law breakers." But death is what they really want and will demand. It will be passed and signed into law, according to their desire, against a small group whose only desire is to please God. I believe that how we react to our personal trials of conflict on a daily basis, will determine our reaction when the Sunday sacredness becomes law.
"The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men." 5 Testimonies 81.
Verse 10 tells of the "wrath of God," (7 last plagues) on the ones that receive the mark of the beast.
Verse 12 tells of a group who do not have the mark on them. They are safe for heaven to save, they have endured everything Satan could throw at them. They not only have the faith of Jesus and know the commandments of God, but they "keep the commandments of God." Rev. 14:12.
Many today know of God's 10 rules but are totally confused as to what to do with them. Thousands and thousands of Protestant ministers have stood before their fallen churches, telling the people that God's Ten Commandment Law was nailed to the cross, and you do not need to obey that old law anymore. Yet, down in the young people's section of that same church, the youth are being taught to memorize the ten commandments. Confusion and chaos is the result, to children and adults, year after year, until nothing is black or white, to them there are no absolutes. Obey God's commandments if it is convenient, but disobey in an emergency. That is acceptable to this group. Yes, the false shepherds, spreading this deception, have conditioned their flocks to go along with the crowd to the slaughter. Someday, during the falling of the plagues, they will be visited by those very people they mislead.
Before closing out this chapter on the 3 angel's messages let me remind all those receiving their salaries from tithe money. "There are fearful woes for those who preach truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they can not fill." 1 Testimonies 261.
Those who feel locked in a "...position which they cannot fill..." should know what they should do about receiving wages from sacred tithe funds. Many only present sermons that are watered down and altered by their superiors. Here is a thought for those in leadership positions, a question you will be asked someday, concerning the 3 angel's messages of Revelation 14. Many have read the below words and know that these those 3 messages will be repeated, one at a time.
"The first, second, and third angel's messages are to be repeated. The call is to be given to the church. 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird... come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'" Review & Herald, October 31, 1899.
Now here comes your questions. When the first angel's message is repeated, that message must include a "time" element. Tell me, how will Adventist leadership attempt to explain, and what Scriptures will they use with a time element? With them applying Daniel 12 to the past, the way they do boldly, openly today, they have used up the very verses of Scripture that God's true children will proclaim fearlessly to those willing to listen. What a dilemma leadership will have on their hands, when they finally understand this.
Also the second angel's message, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" is directed toward what church? If the call is to be given to the church, and not to the world, toward what church will this call be directed. It could not apply to the fallen Protestant churches, or the Roman church. it's message is directed to a church that was once pure. "The call is to be given to the church," (Not to the world) "Babylon is fallen." Review & Herald, Oct. 31, 1899.
Both of these
questions are easily answered. Wait until the final chapters where all
the pieces fit together.