The Third Angel’s Message

Revelation 14:9-12—The Third Angel’s Message

9And 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,

10The 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:

11And 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.

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

What is the core content of the third angel’s message?

              The core content of the third angel’s message is summarized in two truths:  1) Jesus’ mediation in the most holy place and 2) the eternal authority of God’s law.

4SP 275.2—Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message.

 

When did Jesus send the third angel’s message?

              Jesus sent the third angel’s message when he began his new job in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary.  This job transfer occurred in 1844.

4SP 273.1—When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, he committed to his servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14. Immediately following its proclamation, the Son of man is seen by the prophet coming in glory to reap the harvest of the earth.

4SP 273.2—As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844.

 

How did the third angel light up the past, the present, and the future to the early advent believers after the passing of the time in 1844?

              The third angel lit up the past by explaining what had really happened in 1844.  They had been expecting Jesus to back to earth to cleanse the sanctuary (Dan. 8:14).  But because of the third angel’s message, the believers realized that the sanctuary that was being cleansed was the one in heaven.  Instead of returning to this earth, Jesus had actually changed locations in His mediation (He went from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place).

              The third angel lit up the present by clarifying what Jesus was doing right now in the heavenly sanctuary and by drawing their attention to the law of God.  In discovering that God’s law (including the Sabbath commandment) was still binding, these believers saw how they needed to change their lives—how they needed to start keeping the law and living in the knowledge of Jesus new job.

              The third angel lit up the future by showing what Jesus will be doing in the Most Holy Place until the close of probation; this message also foretold the great “battle” that will progress between those who keep God’s law and those who don’t.  It predicts the final judgment that is sentenced on those who refuse to worship and obey God.

 

EW 254.2—After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary. As they by faith enter the most holy, they find Jesus, and hope and joy spring up anew. I saw them looking back, reviewing the past, from the proclamation of the second advent of Jesus, down through their experience to the passing of the time in 1844. They see their disappointment explained, and joy and certainty again animate them. The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future, and they know that God has indeed led them by His mysterious providence.

 

Why does the evangelical Christian world not accept the truth of Christ’s change of ministration from the holy place to the most holy place in 1844?

              If the evangelical Christian world would accept the truth about Jesus’ mediation in the Most Holy Place, they would have to accept the truth about importance of the seventh-day Sabbath.  Many of these Christians would rather keep Sunday as their day of worship.  For within the Most Holy Place is the Ark of the Covenant, and within the Ark are the Ten Commandments, and in these commandments is found the Sabbath commandment.

4SP 275.1—Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in Heaven, and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God’s law, and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that brought to view the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.

4SP 273.3—They had by faith followed their High Priest from the holy to the most holy, and they saw him pleading his blood before the ark of God. Within that sacred ark is the Father’s law, the same that was spoken by God himself amid the thunders of Sinai, and written with his own finger on the tables of stone. Not one command has been annulled; not a jot or tittle has been changed. While God gave to Moses a copy of his law, he preserved the great original in the sanctuary above. Tracing down its holy precepts, the seekers for truth found, in the very bosom of the decalogue, the fourth commandment, as it was first proclaimed: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…” [Ex. 20:8-11]

 

How is the message of justification by faith the third angel’s message?

              The third angel’s message urges the importance of keeping God’s commandments.  He designed that by keeping His commands, we would know that we are made whole—that we have received the righteous of Christ. (1 John 2:3—And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments;  John 17:3—And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.)  When we keep the commandments and make God the Lord of our lives, it is to be evidence that we have been justified by faith.  Justification by faith is made evident when we obey God to the best of our ability.  In this way, the message of the third angel is synonymous with the message of justification by faith.

Review and Herald, April 1, 1890—Ev 190.3—Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message in verity.”

Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91-93. (1896)—Ev 190.4—This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited 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. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.

 

What is the purpose of the numbering system for the angels’ messages of Revelation 14?

              The numbering system is simply to show the chronological rise of the three messages.  After all three are proclaimed, they are to be given as one message.

GC 693 appendix—The three messages are but one threefold message. They are three only in the order of their rise. But having risen, they go on together and are inseparable.

 

How do the first, second, and third angels’ messages all blend into one?

              Each message builds upon the previous one.  The messages are like chapters in a continued story.  Each emphasizes the central motif of “the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God” (4SP 275.2).

              The first angel’s message is a call to worship God (and in doing so, keep His commandments).  The reason being is that “the hour of his judgment is come” (Rev. 14:7).  This text is referring to Jesus’ new role of investigative judgment in the Most Holy Place.

              The second angel’s message gives a warning to those who reject first message—who reject God’s commandments and the truth of Jesus mediation during the judgment.  It briefly tells what happens to these people:  they become a part of fallen Babylon.

              The third angel’s message continues to describe in greater detail what will happen to those who reject the first and second messages.  It continues the theme of the importance of God’s commandments and Jesus’ work in the Most Holy.  It ends by saying:  “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God” (Rev. 14:12).  By emphasizing the commandments, this message directed the believers to the Most Holy Place, where the law is kept.

2SM 116.2—Thus the substance of the second angel’s message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history.

GC 693.1—A THREEFOLD MESSAGE.–REVELATION 14:6, 7 FORETELLS THE PROCLAMATION OF THE FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE. THEN THE PROPHET CONTINUES: “THERE FOLLOWED ANOTHER ANGEL, SAYING, BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN. . . . AND THE THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED THEM.” THE WORD HERE RENDERED “FOLLOWED” MEANS “TO GO ALONG WITH,” “TO FOLLOW ONE,” “GO WITH HIM.” SEE HENRY GEORGE LIDDELL AND ROBERT SCOTT, GREEK ENGLISH LEXICON (OXFORD: CLARENDON PRESS, 1940), VOL. 1, P. 52. IT ALSO MEANS “TO ACCOMPANY.” SEE GEORGE ABBOTT-SMITH, A MANUAL GREEK LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (EDINBURGH: T. AND T. CLARK, 1950), PAGE 17.

4SP 275.2—Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message.

EW 260.1—…the third angel’s message, which shows the way into the most holy place.

EW 254.2—After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary.

 

How can you show that the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God are the truths of the third angel’s message?

              The last part of the third angel’s message ends in these words:  “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 message makes a striking contrast between those who worship the beast and those who worship God.  The first group obviously does not keep God’s commandments.  The later of the two groups, however, does.  The text does not say that they kept some of the commandments or a revised version of them.  No, the commandments mentioned here are the same ones that were spoken on top of Mt. Sinai.  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8).

              As attention is drawn to the commandments, the sanctuary comes to view.  In the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments were kept in the Most Holy Place.  Likewise, in the heavenly sanctuary, the original Law of God is stored in the Most Holy Place (Heb. 8:5).  The Law helped to direct believers’ attention to this compartment, which was Jesus new location in His ministry.

              As already mentioned, the three angel’s messages are to taken as one complete message.  The third angel’s message is to be understood in the context of the two previous messages.  This third message merely continues the theme of judgment (which is part of the closing work of atonement) talked about in the first angel’s message (“the hour of his judgment is come”).  By pointing to the Most Holy Place, the third message tells where the first message is fulfilled.  {“…Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement…” (4SP 273.1).}             

EW 254.2—After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary.

4SP 273.2—As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844. To this time apply the words of the Revelator, “The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [REV. 11:19]

4SP 273.3—They had by faith followed their High Priest from the holy to the most holy, and they saw him pleading his blood before the ark of God. Within that sacred ark is the Father’s law, the same that was spoken by God himself amid the thunders of Sinai, and written with his own finger on the tables of stone. Not one command has been annulled; not a jot or tittle has been changed. While God gave to Moses a copy of his law, he preserved the great original in the sanctuary above. Tracing down its holy precepts, the seekers for truth found, in the very bosom of the decalogue, the fourth commandment, as it was first proclaimed: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” [EX. 20:8]

 

Where is the “here” in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God” “and their faith in Jesus.”

              The “here” mentioned in this verse most likely refers to the Most Holy Place.  When the early advent believers learned of the importance of God’s commandments and of Jesus new role in the Most Holy Place, “entered” by faith into the same compartment.  They did this by believing that Jesus was there ministering for mankind and also by living their lives in preparation for their day in judgment.  As also noted in the text, these believers were the ones following God’s commandments and having the “faith of Jesus.”

              This text also refers to anyone in our day that learns of God’s Law, decides to keep it, and follows Jesus into the Most Holy Place.

EW 254.1—The third angel closes his message thus: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God.

4SP 273.3—They had by faith followed their High Priest from the holy to the most holy, and they saw him pleading his blood before the ark of God.

 

What is the “action step[s]” for the third angel’s message?

              If the two main themes of this message are the 1) mediation of Christ in the Most Holy Place and the 2) perpetuity of God’s Law, then the actions steps should be related to these core concepts.

              The third angel’s message is a call to 1) keep God’s commandments and 2) live our lives in the faith that Jesus has entered the Most Holy Place.

4SP 275.2—Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message.             

EW 254.2—I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary.

4SP 273.3—They had by faith followed their High Priest from the holy to the most holy, and they saw him pleading his blood before the ark of God. Within that sacred ark is the Father’s law…

 

What are the two purposes for the warning against the beast and his image contained in the third message?

              The purposes of this warning are 1) to extend the mercy of Christ’s righteousness to all who are willing to accept it and 2) to warn those in Babylon of their impending doom if they refuse to follow Jesus.

4SP 273.1—When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, he committed to his servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14.

Ev 190.4—It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

GC 449.2—The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them…

 

What does it mean to receive the mark of the beast?

              God warns the world (through the third angel’s message) against receiving the mark of the beast.  No one will receive this mark until the times comes when the world has learned the truth, but refuse to follow it.  God does not punish without first warning and offering salvation.

              Just as keeping the seventh-day Sabbath is a sign showing who God’s people are (Eze. 20:20), when the time comes, observing the first day of the week will be the mark of the beast.

              Receiving the mark of the beast means to reject God’s commandments and persist in showing allegiance to the beast.  In essence, it is also rejecting Jesus mediation.  (How could someone expect to get the benefits of Christ’s mediation when they are breaking the commandments contained in the very same room in which He is working?)

7BC 979.12—The third angel’s message has been sent forth to the world, warning men against receiving the mark of the beast or of his image in their foreheads or in their hands.

Letter 31, 1898—7BC 979.11—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.

 

What is “the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation”?

              This “wine of the wrath of God” is obviously the punishment that God is forced to pour out on those who refuse to follow Him.  If we let the verse explain itself, we read further in Rev. 14:10 to discover that this “wine” includes the destruction of the wicked in hellfire.

              If we keep reading into the next chapter, we find out that this “wine” also refers to the seven last plagues which are poured out just before Jesus comes.  Notice the similar wording between Rev. 14:10 and Rev. 15:1—“wrath of God” and the idea of liquid.

Rev. 14:10—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:

Rev. 15:1—And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

Rev. 16:1—Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

 

How are those who receive the mark of the beast “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”?

              This text is referring to hell.  According to Rev. 20, hell is an event that occurs after the millennium and after the wicked are resurrected in the second resurrection.  Satan deceives these people one more time into attempting to take the holy city that has just come down from Heaven.  These verses describe what happens:

              “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:7-10).  (Notice the similar language between Rev. 14:10 and Rev. 20:7-10.)  This destruction is final and is known as the 2nd death.

              This destruction happens “in the presence of the holy angels, and…the Lamb” who are inside the city that the wicked surrounded.

 

What does it mean that “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”? Give some Biblical support. You could also take a look at Jude 7 and Isa. 34:10,11.

              When the Bible says, “for ever and ever,” does it always mean “eternally”?  Let’s look at some other examples where this or a similar phrase is used in the Bible.

              Jonah 2:6–I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

              Isaiah 34:10, 11–It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.  But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

                1 Samuel 1:22–But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.                  

                Jude 7–Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

                In the first text, Jonah said that he was in the belly of the great fish “forever.”  Yet the Bible goes on to say that this fish vomited him onto shore.  This word, “forever,” must (in this context) mean “until the time was finished or completed.”

                In Isaiah 34:10, 11 speaks of eternal fire.  But then it describes how various birds will come to live there.  Birds would not come to live in a furnace; they could not survive.  This “for ever” must not mean “eternal” in this text.

                The third text describes Hannah promising to take Samuel to the tabernacle, to stay there forever.  She did not intend for him to stay there for all of eternity.  This “for ever” simply means “until he dies.”

                Jude 7 says that Sodom and Gomorrha suffered the “vengeance of eternal fire.”  Are Sodom and Gomorrha still burning today?  Obviously not.  Therefore, this “eternal fire” must be a fire that lasts only as long as the people live, as long as is needed to do the job.

                Eternal fire is not eternal in the sense of going on through eternity.  Only it’s effects are eternal.