The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly News
The Warning and the Opportunity to Repent from the voices of the 3 angels. ( Revelation 14:6-13)
I. The Good News: Proclamation of Salvation.
A. The Eternal Gospel (Revelation 14:6)
1. Announcement of hope
2. Call to worship the Creator
B. Invitation to Repentance (Revelation 14:7)
1. Fear God and give Him glory
2. Acknowledge His judgment
During the present age, the angels are not privileged to preach the gospel.
That responsibility has been given to God's people.
While the nations will fear "the beast" and give honor to him, this heavenly messenger will summon them to fear and honor God alone. It is a reminder that God is the Creator and He alone deserves worship.
All creation bears witness to God's existence as well as to His power and wisdom. Nonetheless, "the beast" will convince men that he is in charge of the world, and that their destinies are in his hands.-
The message of the angel calls men back to basics: God is Creator-ship and serve Him. The fear of the Lord, not the fear of "the beast," is the source of wisdom (Prov. 9:10).
II. The Bad News: Warning of Judgment
A. Fall of Babylon (Revelation 14:8)
1. Symbol of corruption and sin
2. Consequences of rebellion against God.
"Babylon" is God's name for the world system of "the beast," the entire economic and political organization
"The harlot" (Rev. 17) is the religious system that "the beast" uses to help build his organization. When Antichrist establishes his own religion (Rev. 13:11-15), he will destroy the "harlot," but it is God who will destroy Babylon.
B. Call to Awareness (Revelation 14:9-10)
1. Warning against worshiping the beast
2. Understanding the severity of eternal punishment
The third message is directed especially to those who are deciding about following "the beast.
" It is a warning that "the easy way" is really the hard way, that to "go along with the world" means to go away from God.
"If any man continues to worship the beast, suggesting that there is still opportunity for repentance and salvation.
"Drinking the cup" is sometimes used as an image of judgment.
God's final judgments on mankind will be "vials of wrath" poured out from heaven (Rev. 16). God will not mix mercy with this judgment (Ps. 75:8; Hab. 3:2), but will pour out His undiluted indignation on a rebellious world.
III. The Ugly News: The Consequences of Rejection (Revelation 14:9-11)
A. The Mark of the Beast
1. Understanding the significance of allegiance
2. The dangers of compromising faith
B. The Reality of Eternal Punishment
1. Descriptions of torment and separation from God
2. The weight of choosing worldly over spiritual
C. The Call to Perseverance
1. Encouragement for the saints to endure
2. The promise of reward for faithfulness (Revelation 14:12-13)
We must also keep in mind that God has repeatedly warned sinners and given them opportunity to repent.
The first angel in this series invited sinners to turn to God, and the second one warned that the whole
"Babylonian" system would be destroyed. If people persist in their sins even after God sends judgments and warnings, then they have only themselves to blame.
Apostle John intended for his readers to see the contrast between Revelation 14:11 and 13: no rest for the wicked, but eternal rest for the saints (see 2 Thess.
1:3-12).
Better to reign with Christ forever than with Antichrist for a few short years!
Better to endure persecution patiently now than to escape it and suffer throughout eternity!
Conclusion
As I’ve been studying these events I’ve been asking myself,
“What do I need to do to get through this?”
I think there are 3 things I need to do:
Walk closely with Jesus. He’s promised to never to leave me nor forsake me. He’s promised that if i seek first the kingdom of God, everything I need will be added to me.
I need to do is encourage others for them to be prepared also. I need to pray for and share the way of salvation with everyone I can.
Those are the three things I think you need to do to get through too:
Walk closely with Jesus.
Encourage others about walking with Jesus.
Pray and share God’s Good News.
All throughout the Tribulation story, John is reminding us that in spite of all that is going on, we have a Savior we can rely on.
In this chapter, He’s The One whose name we write on our Foreheads (14:1); He’s The Son of Man, Seated on Clouds of Glory(14:14); and He’s The Judge of All the Earth (14:16).
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PASTOR NHONG
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