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Chapter 14 The 144,000 and the Victorious Judgment of the Lamb

   </font>(2) A warning is given by the Second Angel (14:8) that the worship system of Babylon the Great is collectively dead. And,

   

 (3) individually, the Third Angel (14:9-11) warns his hearers against their personal participation in the worship of the Beast.</p>

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Since "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), the Everlasting Gospel (14:6) is not limited to any specific location or group of people, but it will be preached, as it was always intended, to "them that dwell on the Earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (14:6). "19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).

What a compelling event! Three angels canvas the globe, assaulting the senses of all Earth dwellers with the sight and sound of the preaching of the Gospel (14:6-11). "O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the Word of the LORD" (Jeremiah 22:29). This is akin to giving the Earth dwellers one last chance before the Almighty returns for the Final Judgment of the Earth, which occurs only a few days hence. "Who hath heard such a thing?" (Isaiah 66:8). Though the term Gospel has many connotations today, it specifically describes the Good News of man's opportunity to turn away from his selfishness and return to trusting God. "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel [Greek, euaggelion, or Good News]" (Mark 1:15). As the Gospel announces man's opportunity for repentance and Salvation, the Law of God simply declares what God justly requires of man, "Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... and... thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37, 39). The Gospel understands that man has transgressed that Law, thus, requiring his death. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). "2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect So Great Salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him"(Hebrews 2:2-3).

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"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."

The Gospel message preached by the First Angel is a righteous command to "fear God", "give glory to Him", and "worship Him" (14:7). Though the Gospel offers the opportunity of repentance for Eternal Salvation, it requires, then as well as now, obedience to the commands of the Gospel, i.e., "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel" (Romans 10:16). When the First Angel preaches the Everlasting Gospel (14:6) with a "loud voice" (14:7), the impression is that all the inhabitants of the Earth are constrained to hear his command to respond to the Gospel. This has always been the case with the preaching of the Gospel, that God "now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). The command to "fear God" (14:7) is the "beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). To "give glory to Him" (14:7) is God's demand to return to the original purpose of man, i.e., "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" (4:11). And, to "worship Him" (14:7) is the clarion call whereby God requires man to return to True Worship, i.e., "True Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23).

Next Part 6 The 144,000