Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:21 pm Post subject: The Three Angels' Messages
There are three messages that will be given to the world, just before the world ends. See Revelation 14:6-12, quoted below. Immediately following the preaching of these messages, the world will be ready for the final harvest of both good and evil: Rev 14:14-20.
There is a parallel between the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-10), the three angels’ messages (Rev 14:6-12) and the three frog-like spirits that John saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, beast and false prophet (Rev 16:13,14).
I will explain these parallels. I will also contrast and clarify the last great controversy between good and evil. There should be no reason for confusion as to which is which. The three demons’ messages and the three angels’ messages are remarkably distinct.
Just as Jesus countered Satan’s three temptations in the wilderness, the three angels’ messages (Rev 14:6-12) oppose the three relentless spirits that are urging conformity to the sentiments of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.
“And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 16:13,14.
Dragon
The first demon’s message is that there is no judgment. There are no restraints. We are to serve ourselves and put ourselves first (Isaiah 14:12-14 cf. Ezekiel 28:1-19). It’s like what the serpent said to Eve in the garden. “You surely shall not die!” Look at the great reward for disobedience! (Genesis 3:4-6).
The greatest conveyer of the ‘live as you please, live for yourself, heaven is your home’ message today is television. We may overcome this sentiment easily because of the precept and example and atonement of Christ. Consider Christ’s defense to Satan’s first temptation in the desert:
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
This parallels the theme in the first angel’s message that we are to absolutely put God first in everything:
Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev 14:6-7).
This message was anticipated in Old Testament times and is still true. Consider the first edition: What is the whole duty of man? Solomon wrote, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Beast
The second demon’s message is that presumption is justifiable, permissible and holy. Consider the second temptation:
Matthew 4:5-7
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Babylon is a kingdom of presumption.
Quote:
pre·sump·tion
n.
1. Behavior or attitude that is boldly arrogant, audacious or offensive; effrontery.
2. The act of venturing beyond due bounds; an overstepping of the bounds of reverence, respect, or courtesy; forward, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct; presumptuousness; arrogance; effrontery.
3. The act of presuming, or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof.
The second angel’s message strikes against this confidence by announcing, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great.” See Revelation chapter 18. Much of the character of Babylon is vividly exposed there.
Note: The beast is the true representative and visible ruler of Babylon (Rev 16:10). That means that the presumption of the beast is answered in the second angel’s message.
False Prophet
The third demon’s message is that this world is wonderful and that to be successful you must compromise integrity and strict obedience.
Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
The false prophet power uses coercion and deception to compel the world to worship the beast (Rev 13:11-17). And to worship the beast is to worship the dragon (Rev 13:4).
The parallel is complete. The third angel is directly opposed to the false prophet’s command that we worship the beast and explicitly says that worshiping the beast is a bad idea.
Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Rev 14:9-11.
Here are all three angels’ messages.
Quote:
Revelation 14:6-12:
Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Rev 14:6-7).
A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Rev 14:8).
Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Rev 14:9-11).
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Rev 14:12).
I think that you are right on target. The Devil has used the same basic temptations against men since Adam and Eve. I also saw the same senario played out against Job (I'll share that another time). Since he has had so much success why should he stop? We see the same thing in 1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
Joined: 25 Dec 2002 Posts: 5 Location: Kilcoy, Queensland, Australia
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:13 pm Post subject:
Hey Texan Wouldn't mind getting this three angels on my website. The first angel anounces the good news. The judgment does not seem such good news. Yet how can the judgment and good news be preached together?
I mean the conventional Christian view is that when the judgment comes in form of the seven last plagues on the wicked false worshippers of the Beast 666, the good news was finished before this. So the only alternative left for the three angels is the start of the investigative pre-advent day of Atonement begun by Jesus before His return when all the rewards are said to come with His second advent to usher in His new reign in glory.
Jesus Himself pointed forward from His time [Matthew 24:15] and urged us to study Daniel's prophecies [cf.Daniel 8:13,14] where we would find the very date and time that this cleansing or justifying hour of God's sanctuary and judgment begins. This date is fixed to 1844 A.D. a day for a year and this would make 2300 into years. The very date that prophecied Jesus first coming [Daniel 7:24-27] also has the same starting date, namely 457 B.C. and his second coming in 1844 A.D. was not to this world but to the Father or Ancient of Days [Dan.7:13] and the executive final judgment would really be His third coming. From the Aussie boy _________________ Unless God has all of your heart, the Devil has a part!
I understand what you're saying Aussie boy, but I suspect that the average non-SDA that reads this thread wouldn't know what you're talking about. What I had in mind for this thread is that we should stick to the fundamentals of what these angel messages mean.
Take a look at where many people are in their understanding. See the following links for example.
Hopefully, you have learned something from my failure! Unbelievable ideas must be introduced in the simplest possible terms. Overcoming innate prejudice is the hard part. There's no need to compound the difficulty by speaking unintelligibly.
Obviously, theoretically, when fundamental concepts have been explained in sufficient detail so that the general picture is clear, then everyone can move on to the very fine details. The trick is how to get there.
I believe that the best approach to understanding the judgment hour message is to begin with a study of this outline of Revelation together with Matthew 25. Understanding the basic point of the three angels' messages is much easier. For that, all you need is to understand the general character of the dragon, beast and false prophet.
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:45 pm Post subject: Frogs and false evangelists are skilled with their tongues!
What's the significance and meaning of frogs in this reference?
Quote:
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Revelation 16:13,14.
Frogs are a perfect symbol of false teachers. Unusually successful false evangelists are in view. Beware their lethal lying tongues! Frogs prefer moving prey and can capture their prey by flicking out their tongue and bringing it back into their mouth in a fraction of a second.
"three unclean spirits like frogs"
its a similie
was that the question?
"and Jesus said "it is written..."
whose doin this writin? _________________ im o expert, but...
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 9:39 pm Post subject: The simile
Arquais wrote:
"three unclean spirits like frogs"
was that the question?
Yes.
Arquais wrote:
"and Jesus said "it is written..."
whose doin this writin?
But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"' (Matthew 4:4).
Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3.
Jesus said to him, "It is written again, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God"' (Matthew 4:7).
Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.
Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve"' (Matthew 4:10).
Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:13.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in
Wouldn't mind getting this three angels on my website. The first angel anounces the good news. The judgment does not seem such good news. Yet how can the judgment and good news be preached together?
