Lesson-14

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

REVELATION and the THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES

Introduction: It is time now to look at the book of Revelation. Many think Revelation is a closed book, but its very name contradicts that idea. The first three verses of this book make this very clear.

1. What six things does Revelation 1:1 tell us?

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2. How faithfully did John fulfill his mission? Rev. 1:2.

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3. What three things are required to receive the blessing, and why is it important? Rev. 1:3.

______________________________________________________________________________

Note: Thus we see that Revelation is not a closed book, but one that needs to be read and studied, for it has a message for us. The fact that the “time is at hand,” is even more true now, as we are discovering from what we have found in the book of Daniel. The book of Revelation is a whole series of studies in themselves, even as the book of Daniel is. We cannot begin to cover it all, but will study a few important points. Hopefully, perhaps later, we can go into it more fully. The first subject we will study is found in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation.

4. To whom is the first angel directing his message, and what is it called ? Rev. 14:6.

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Note: The fact that the angel is flying, and “in the midst of heaven,” suggests both speed and being worldwide in extent, and, indeed, especially after 1844, the “everlasting gospel” has gone quickly to the whole world. At this time there are few places that have not been reached.

5. How does he do his work, and what further message does he give? Rev. 14:7.

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Note: The angel speaks with a loud voice. He wants his message to be heard because it is a vital message, for in addition to the Gospel which was already being preached, He announces that the time of judgment has come to be followed by the Second Coming of Christ. He is also calling to the people to recognize God as their Creator, Who is real, and Who is in charge. But the most important reason for this message is “the hour of His judgment is come.” This is what we have already studied in the Investigative Judgment, which began in 1844. So this angel’s message began before that time, and history bears this out, especially the period from 1840 to 1844, which was an intensely active period of Gospel work.

6. What is the message of the second angel? Rev. 14:8.

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7. Who is Babylon? Can she be any good? Why?

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Note: The language of Rev. 14:8 is very negative. First Babylon is fallen . That intimates her status has gone down; she has become degraded, disreputable. She “has made all nations.” She has a strong influence on the world. “Drink of the wine of the of the wrath of her fornication,”--follow in the steps of her wickedness, and therefore be guilty with her. What was “her fornication”? Was it literal “fornication”? No, it was not. It was referring to her many unchristlike practices. Pretending to be God’s church, she failed to follow or obey God’s requirements, but instead following tradition, obeying the rules of man, contrary to the law of God. This included keeping Sunday instead of the true Sabbath, and idol or saint worship.

8. What is the warning of Rev. 14:9-11, and how is it proclaimed?

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Note: The warning against the Beast, his Image, and his Mark is very serious, as verses 10 and 11 show, and is the reason for the “loud voice.” The consequences of not heeding the warning have to do with our eternal destiny, but we have to make the choice. See Josh. 24:15. In our next lesson we will investigate the Beast, his Image, and his Mark.

9. What happens shortly after the Three Angels’ Messages are given? Rev. 14:14.

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Note: This places these messages in the time of the end. As we have already learned, now is the time of the Judgment.

10. Are these literal angels or symbolic? Matt. 5:14; 28:19,20; Mark 16:15.

______________________________________________________________________________

Note: These Scriptures seem to indicate that the angels are symbolic of the work we are to do. This does not mean the preachers. We are made ministers. See Eph. 3:7; 1 Cor. 3:5-9; and we are all equal or brethren. See Matt. 23:8.

11. How is the angel of Rev. 18:1-4 connected with the Three Angels? See verse 2.

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Note: This angel has “great power” and also is very bright, for “the earth was lightened with his glory.” This was a time of great enlightenment, both spiritual and secular. This strengthened the message of the second angel and made it more emphatic. Verse 3 restates the wickedness of Babylon as found in Rev. 14:8. Verse 4 further emphasizes the need to heed the warning and “come out of her.”

12. How does Rev. 14:12 describe the “saints,” or the victors?

______________________________________________________________________________

Note: “Patience” is mentioned seven times in Revelation. The Greek word used for what been translated into English as “patience” has also been given the meaning of enduring or longsuffering. These are traits of character that are needed for the times just ahead of us. Another important word is “keep” or guard or hold fast. This is talking about keeping the commandments, and if we are to do that, it means these commandments are important. The Bible bears this out in the following verses: Deut. 10:12,13; Matt. 19:17; John 14:15; 1 John 3:22; 5:2,3; Rev. 12:17; 22:14. The third word is “faith” or conviction, belief, or assurance. We truly must have faith or belief in Jesus. We must meet all three conditions.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Bible Studies Lesson 14 REVELATION and the THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES Introduction: It is time now to look at the book of Revelation. Many think Revelation is a closed book, but its very name contradicts that idea. The first three verses of this book make this very clear. 1. What six things does Revelation 1:1 tell us? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. How faithfully did John fulfill his mission? Rev. 1:2. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. What three things are required to receive the blessing, and why is it important? Rev. 1:3. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: Thus we see that Revelation is not a closed book, but one that needs to be read and studied, for it has a message for us. The fact that the “time is at hand,” is even more true now, as we are discovering from what we have found in the book of Daniel. The book of Revelation is a whole series of studies in themselves, even as the book of Daniel is. We cannot begin to cover it all, but will study a few important points. Hopefully, perhaps later, we can go into it more fully. The first subject we will study is found in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. 4. To whom is the first angel directing his message, and what is it called ? Rev. 14:6. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The fact that the angel is flying, and “in the midst of heaven,” suggests both speed and being worldwide in extent, and, indeed, especially after 1844, the “everlasting gospel” has gone quickly to the whole world. At this time there are few places that have not been reached. 5. How does he do his work, and what further message does he give? Rev. 14:7. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The angel speaks with a loud voice. He wants his message to be heard because it is a vital message, for in addition to the Gospel which was already being preached, He announces that the time of judgment has come to be followed by the Second Coming of Christ. He is also calling to the people to recognize God as their Creator, Who is real, and Who is in charge. But the most important reason for this message is “the hour of His judgment is come.” This is what we have already studied in the Investigative Judgment, which began in 1844. So this angel’s message began before that time, and history bears this out, especially the period from 1840 to 1844, which was an intensely active period of Gospel work. 6. What is the message of the second angel? Rev. 14:8. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Who is Babylon? Can she be any good? Why? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The language of Rev. 14:8 is very negative. First Babylon is fallen . That intimates her status has gone down; she has become degraded, disreputable. She “has made all nations.” She has a strong influence on the world. “Drink of the wine of the of the wrath of her fornication,”--follow in the steps of her wickedness, and therefore be guilty with her. What was “her fornication”? Was it literal “fornication”? No, it was not. It was referring to her many unchristlike practices. Pretending to be God’s church, she failed to follow or obey God’s requirements, but instead following tradition, obeying the rules of man, contrary to the law of God. This included keeping Sunday instead of the true Sabbath, and idol or saint worship. 8. What is the warning of Rev. 14:9-11, and how is it proclaimed? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The warning against the Beast, his Image, and his Mark is very serious, as verses 10 and 11 show, and is the reason for the “loud voice.” The consequences of not heeding the warning have to do with our eternal destiny, but we have to make the choice. See Josh. 24:15. In our next lesson we will investigate the Beast, his Image, and his Mark. 9. What happens shortly after the Three Angels’ Messages are given? Rev. 14:14. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: This places these messages in the time of the end. As we have already learned, now is the time of the Judgment. 10. Are these literal angels or symbolic? Matt. 5:14; 28:19,20; Mark 16:15. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: These Scriptures seem to indicate that the angels are symbolic of the work we are to do. This does not mean the preachers. We are made ministers. See Eph. 3:7; 1 Cor. 3:5-9; and we are all equal or brethren. See Matt. 23:8. 11. How is the angel of Rev. 18:1-4 connected with the Three Angels? See verse 2. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: This angel has “great power” and also is very bright, for “the earth was lightened with his glory.” This was a time of great enlightenment, both spiritual and secular. This strengthened the message of the second angel and made it more emphatic. Verse 3 restates the wickedness of Babylon as found in Rev. 14:8. Verse 4 further emphasizes the need to heed the warning and “come out of her.” 12. How does Rev. 14:12 describe the “saints,” or the victors? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: “Patience” is mentioned seven times in Revelation. The Greek word used for what been translated into English as “patience” has also been given the meaning of enduring or longsuffering. These are traits of character that are needed for the times just ahead of us. Another important word is “keep” or guard or hold fast. This is talking about keeping the commandments, and if we are to do that, it means these commandments are important. The Bible bears this out in the following verses: Deut. 10:12,13; Matt. 19:17; John 14:15; 1 John 3:22; 5:2,3; Rev. 12:17; 22:14. The third word is “faith” or conviction, belief, or assurance. We truly must have faith or belief in Jesus. We must meet all three conditions.