A Study of The Book of Revelation, Armageddon Part #50

Earl Gillespie

A Study of The Book of Revelation

ARMAGEDDON

Revelation 14:14-20:

Armageddon is the site of a battle during the end of times.  The Messiah will return to earth and defeat the Antichrist (the "beast") and Satan the Devil in the Battle of Armageddon. Then Satan will be put into the "bottomless pit" or abyss for 1,000 years, known as the Millennium. After being released from the abyss, Satan will gather Gog and Magog (peoples of two specific nations) from the four corners of the earth. They will encamp surrounding the "holy ones" and the "beloved city" (this refers to Jerusalem). Fire will come down from God, out of heaven and devour Gog and Magog after the Millennium. The Devil, death, hell, and those not found written in the Book of Life are then thrown into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.  

This is the mainstream premillennial Christian interpretation of the events transpiring in Revelation.  There are three levels of confusion when it comes to the interpretation of the apocalyptic  views of Revelation.  Premillennialism is based upon what is said to be a literal interpretation of Revelation 20:1–6 in the New Testament, which describes Jesus' coming to the earth and subsequent reign at the end of an apocalyptic period of tribulation.  The other forms of Christian eschatology such as postmillennialism or amillennialism, which view the millennial rule as occurring either before the second coming, or as being figurative and non-temporal.  A great number of Christians leaders today cannot accept the book of Revelation as a vision of the final disposition of things, therefore they look for other ways to interpret the scripture.  We will continue our study of the Book of Revelation relying upon a literal interpretation through the use of a symbolic language and no attempt will be made to spiritualize the word of God.

 This is what John saw:

14. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

If we can understand the symbolic language of the bible then understanding what John saw become easy.

The battle John is describing here, and the battle of Gog and Magog, described in Revelation 20:8-9, are two separate battles. This battle will be fought at the close of the Tribulation period. The battle of Gog and Magog will be fought at the close of the one thousand years’ reign of Jesus. We will discuss that further when we reach chapter 20. The battle here is a battle of blood. The battle in chapter 20 will be a battle of fire. Fire will come down from God out of Heaven and consume the armies of Gog.

Verse 14 describes what John saw: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” In Acts 1:9-11 we have the account of Jesus ascending in a cloud. The disciples were eyewitnesses to the event. Two men from Heaven appeared and said to them, “This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner (on a cloud) as you have seen him go into heaven.” “Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).

This does not describe the Rapture of the Church. The Rapture takes place in Revelation 4:1-3, and is described in I Thessalonians 4:13-17. The events in Luke 21:27 and Acts 1:11 describe the Revelation, the time when every eye shall see Him, the second phase of the second coming (Revelation 1:7, II Thessalonians 1:7-10). John sees a cloud, and on the cloud “one like unto the Son of man.” There is no guesswork here, no speculation, for we know the identity of Him who is riding on a cloud: “The clouds are His chariots.” “He who will judge the quick and the dead (II Timothy 4:1) is appearing on a white cloud. He is the one who will clear earth of all the hellish seed sown by the Antichrist and his followers. He will destroy the Antichrist “with the brightness of His coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8).

Please note the use of the phrase, "like unto" in the fourteenth verse, this tells us that biblical symbology is being used to describe what is seen.

What a sight! One day the masses on earth will look up into the sky and will see a white snow bank, a giant cloud; and on the cloud the Lamb of God will be sitting. On His head will be a crown of pure gold.  What a sight that will be.  Many people are fascinated with clouds today, because of the changes that seems to be taking place. Daniel knew of these event and prophesied in his day: “I (Daniel) saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of days, and there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom ” (Daniel 7:13,14). In these verses Daniel saw and recorded what John saw and recorded in Revelation. Jesus is coming back to this earth. His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). He is coming to judge the nations and he will be bringing the Saints (church) back with him. (Matthew 25:31,32).

Verse 16: “And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Certainly we need not guess where these events are taking place. It is clearly set forth that they happen right here on this earth. When the Lamb of God thrusts His sickle into earth’s harvest, such plagues, such agonies as will immediately come upon the earth as it has never before been known.  Men will “gnaw their tongues for pain” (Revelation 16:10). During this time the great whore sitting on the beast is stripped of her pride and haughtiness. She is filled with torment, burning, sorrow, anguish, woe, misery. 

In verse 17, another angel appears out of the temple which is in Heaven, and he also has a sharp sickle.

In verse 18, still another angel comes out of the altar, and this is the angel of fire. He cries with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe” The Lamb who sits on the white cloud has “a sharp sickle.” He is coming in judgment, to reap the harvest of the earth. Sin’s harvest is fully ripe, and it is time to reap. When Jesus comes in the Rapture, He will come with a “trumpet voice.” The shout will be, “Come up hither!” (Revelation 4:1); but here He comes with a sharp sickle in His hand. (The sickle is an implement used in harvesting grain, and is still in use in remote sections of the Arab country today.)

The Lamb is about to reap “the harvest of the earth.” He will separate the tares from the wheat - and that will be a time of blood, rivers of blood.  But those of us who are born again have nothing to fret about. The Church will not be here, only those that are left behind (Revelation 3:10; I Thessalonians 5:9). In verse 15 another angel appears. This angel comes out of the temple, crying with a loud voice, speaking to Him who is sitting on the cloud and saying, “Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” What words! What a tremendous announcement! The Angel who stood on the land and the sea announced, “There will be no further delay” (chapter 10). These things are happening in rapid succession. God is bringing to an end earth’s ungodliness and the reign of Antichrist.

There are six angels mentioned in chapter 14: Verses 6, 8, 9, 15, 17 and 18. Those mentioned in verses 15 and 17 come from the temple from whence the vials of the wrath of God are poured (Revelation 16:1). Notice there are six angels mentioned here - man’s number is six. Six is one short of completion - the perfect number, seven. Six of these angels have to do with the completing of man’s affairs on the face of the earth. Remember the souls of the martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11? They were crying, “How long?” They were assured that the wrath of God would be poured out, but they were instructed to rest for a little season. Now the wrath of God is about to be poured out upon these murderers here on earth. The brazen altar speaks of God’s acceptance. (Read Leviticus 1 and Ezekiel 9:2.) The angel from the altar called with a loud voice. It was an urgent call, one that could not be delayed: “GATHER THE CLUSTERS OF THE VINE OF THE EARTH; FOR HER GRAPES ARE FULLY RIPE,” ready to be harvested and cannot wait. Psalm 80:8 identifies the true vine of the earth - Israel not the church. Israel of old was the vine brought out of Egypt, the Lord’s fruit-bearing system on earth. In Isaiah 5:2-4 we learn that Israel produces “wild grapes.” In Jeremiah 2:21 we learn that God’s divine vine turned into a degenerate plant of a strange vine. Israel was therefore set aside by God to be replaced by “the true Vine”,  the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone produces fruit acceptable to God the Father (John 15:1-10). The mark of true discipleship is to be a fruit bearing branch, and not just a branch. Jesus is the true Vine from Heaven. The Antichrist is the counterfeit vine that bears wild grapes that must be reaped and destroyed.

The expression “vine of the earth” constitutes the entire religious system in the coming crisis, when earth shall be reaped at the close of the Tribulation period. The grapes are fully ripe for judgment. They are gathered in bunches and cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God. The great religious systems of earth led by Antichrist and his henchmen will be dealt with unsparingly by Almighty God. The tares will be gathered (Matthew 13:40-42). The branches that do not bear fruit will be burned (John 15:6). That will be the day of “The vengeance of our God.” Note this Scripture: “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:2-4). The prophet asked, “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel?” Jehovah answers, “I have trodden the winepress!”

The angel thrusts in his sickle, and the vine of the earth is gathered, cast into the winepress of the wrath of God, the winepress is trodden by Jehovah God, and the Blood (not wine nor the juice of grapes) comes out of the winepress to the horses’ bridles for the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs . . . which adds up to approximately two hundred miles of blood. Jerusalem is the city referred to here. The valley is Armageddon, just north of Jerusalem. It is there that God’s wrath will be poured out. What a day! What a battle! What a river! Blood six feet deep, two hundred miles long, ten miles wide! What a sight to behold! This is the terrible battle described in Revelation 16:14; 19:19. These accounts have their center in Palestine. It is there that the wickedness of the earth will be concentrated. Religiously speaking, Palestine has always been the center of the earth. The Beast and False Prophet meet their doom there. Gog and the King of the North will meet their doom there (Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39).

The consummation of God’s dealing with wicked men on the earth, as expressed in the harvest of the vintage, will center in Palestine, and is not confined to Israel alone, but also with the nations. The world today has its eyes upon Israel and the Palestine area. Even as you read these words there are nations who would like to pounce upon Palestine. The Arabs hate the Jews, the Communists hate them . . . they are hated by millions around the world. But nations like America and England prevent the enemies of Israel from destroying that nation. However, when the Rapture takes place and God’s people are gone, the Antichrist will come into power and the state of Israel will then be at the mercy of the devil. He will make a covenant with them when he first appears, but he will break that covenant in the middle of the Tribulation period. The last three-and-one-half years will be a time of bloody death. 

Next

A Recap of What We have Studied So Far

A Study of The Book of Revelation, Part #49

Earl Gillespie

A Study of The Book of Revelation

THE FALL OF BABYLON

Revelation 14:8:

The punishments seem somewhat brutal as we read these passages of the scripture, but ask yourself what would you do, if someone trashed your house and killed your son?  Now remember the God we are reading about now is an angry God.

8. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

In verse 8 we learn that following the angel with the everlasting Gospel, there is another angel who is making an announcement. The angel with the everlasting Gospel is preaching judgment; the second angel announces what would, in our language, be an “Amen!” The angel cries, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! That great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”  She led people and nations astray.  Babylon symbolizes the ungodly world-systems now and under Antichrist. We will study this more fully in Revelation 17 and 18.

THE DOOM OF THE BEAST-WORSHIPERS

Revelation 14:9-12:

9. And 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,

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:

11. And 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.

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

In verse 9 we see still a third angel. The first angel is preaching the Gospel of judgment. The second angel announces the fall of the colossal system of earth’s worst harlotry and corruption. The third angel announces the doom of the Beast-worshippers. The angel who preaches the everlasting Gospel admonishes the inhabitants of earth to worship God who created Heaven and earth. He is pleading with the people not to worship the Antichrist (the Beast) but the masses will pay no attention to his message.The doom of those who receive the mark of the Beast, or who worship The Beast, is clearly outlined:   The events prophesied in this book is not so far fetched, we are seeing a preview of things to come now.  Things will continue to get worst until God pour out his full wrath. 

In verse 10, they will drink of the wine of the wrath of God. They will be tormented with fire and brimstone. The torment will be in the presence of the Lamb of God whom they rejected. 

In verse 11, the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever . . . eternally, unending, and they have no rest day or night. Judgment is sounded out concerning those who receive the mark of the counterfeit messiah, or who worship the image of him. Money and power are the leading attributes of the beast.  This Scripture is very clear and understandable. These will be tormented with fire. Do you think that there will be real fire? Why should anyone think anything else? When the Word of God clearly says, “he shall be tormented with fire,” why should we spiritualize or symbolize that statement? It is real fire, just like the fire we know. Brimstone is added to the fire. If you look up that word in your dictionary, you will find that it means “burning sulphur”; that will add heat to the blaze and pain to the tormenting, which will be in the sight of the holy angels and the Lamb of God. Smoke will boil up as from a great furnace. This is not spiritual nor symbolic smoke - it is real smoke. But tragedy of tragedies, the torment is unending . . . it will last forever and ever and ever and ever, day and night, day and night, no rest, no rest, no rest!

There are those today who tell us that the wicked will be burned up, they say there is no such thing as an everlasting hell. The question is, If God is going to burn up the wicked, why He does not put out the fire. Why does the smoke ascend up forever and ever? Because there is no such thing as “soul-annihilation.”  There is no such thing as the annihilation of the wicked. If God burns up souls, then how many days or nights does it take to burn up a soul?

 In our present Scripture, these are burning day and night, continually, and in Revelation 20:10 the devil is cast into the lake of fire where the Beast and the False Prophet are. Please notice “where they ARE.” When the devil is cast in, it will be at the end of the Millennium when he is loosed for a little season. The Beast and the False Prophet were cast in at the beginning of the Millennium, and had been burning for one thousand years, and were not burned up. They are still burning - and they will burn forever and ever and ever. The rich man of Luke 16 is in hell at this very moment begging for one drop of water to cool his parching, blistering tongue.

Who believes in Hell nowadays, we say God is too good.  You may not believe in hell, but this Bible was here before you were, and it will be here when you are gone. What you believe about hell, what you have heard about hell, what the Hollywood scripted preachers preaches about hell does not matter. God has had His say, and that settles it. If there is an eternal Heaven with the glories described in the Bible, then there is just as truly an eternal hell with the horrors described in the Bible.  If you do not believe in hell this side of the grave, you will believe in it on the other side. 

BLESSEDNESS OF THE HOLY DEAD

Revelation 14:13

13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Verse 12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” And then the Holy Spirit hastens to say, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, BLESSED ARE THE DEAD which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” There are those who believe in soul-sleep unconsciousness of the soul. There are those who believe that the spirit, body and soul go to the grave and return to dust until the resurrection. It is a mystery to me how they read that verse, and preach such damnable heresy. The dead in the Lord are blessed. Blessed folks are happy - and the people in Paradise are happy. 

Luke 15:7 and 10 tell us there is joy in Heaven, rejoicing in the presence of the angels over one sinner who repents. (We are not told that the angels rejoice when a sinner is saved. The Scripture says there is joy in the presence of the angels, but it is the redeemed who rejoice.) Somehow, in some way, God makes known to a mother when her boy is saved here on earth. The mother who prayed many years for her boy, and went on to Heaven without seeing him saved, knows and rejoices when that boy is converted. There is joy in Heaven. The righteous dead are happy. They are at peace, they are resting, “their works do follow them.” What a refreshing verse! What a comforting hope! Happy are the dead who die in the Lord from this day forward! All believers who have died since the day of Pentecost have gone to the Paradise “far above all heavens” (Ephesians 4:7-11). The dead in Christ are with the Lord now, and will remain with Him until the Rapture.

When the Rapture takes place the bodies will be raised, and the spirit which is with the Lord now will reunite with the body. We who are alive will be changed and will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. (Study II Corinthians 5:1-8, Philippians 1:21-24, Luke 16:22.) There is no intermediate state of unconsciousness for the dead. The righteous dead go immediately to be with the Lord; the wicked dead go immediately into hell. Then someone asks, “Why the resurrection?” I will explain when we reach Revelation 20. If you have godly loved ones who are deceased, do not worry about where they are. They are resting in the presence of the Lord Jesus. If you are troubled at the thought of dying, if it scares you to think of a graveyard, remember that you are not going to the graveyard; your body will go there, but your spirit will “go back to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Do not fret; the moment you dose your eyes in death, that very selfsame moment you will open your eyes in the presence of God or lift up your eyes in Hell.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Where Jesus is, it is light-never dark. Where Jesus is, all is peace - never fear. Where Jesus is, is Heaven - and even to pass through the valley of the shadow of death is Heaven, because Jesus will be with you if you are born again.

If you are afraid of death, if it frightens you to think of dying, then you have not experienced perfect love (I John 4:18). “Perfect love casteth out fear,” and if you are afraid to meet God, then I am afraid you will spend eternity with “the fearful” (Revelation 21:8). Today is the day of salvation.

To be continued

A Study of The Book of Revelation, Part #48

Earl Gillespie

A Study of The Book of Revelation

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Revelation 14:1-5:

1. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

2. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

What a refreshing sight after the horrors of Revelation 13! John sees the Lamb and 144,000 redeemed, standing on Mount Sion, and there is much rejoicing and much music.  The number 144,000 repersents a number greater than any man can number.  In chapter 13, truth had fallen in the streets, and the saints’ blood ran like water; at the close of chapter 13, good had been almost banished from the earth (Psalm 4:6) and faith was almost unknown (Luke 18:8). The Beast proudly proclaimed himself to be God and dictated both political and religious policies. The few faithful ones were going through such terrible persecution as was never known upon this earth, and except the Lord had shortened those days, “there should no flesh be saved.”

There are seven outstanding things to be noted in our present chapter:

1. We see the 144,000 sealed ones on Mount Sion - verses 1-5.

2. God’s closing testimony to earth: “the everlasting Gospel” - verses 6 and 7.

3. The announcement that Babylon is fallen - verse 8.

4. The terrible doom of the Beast-worshippers - verses 9-1l.

5. The blessedness of those who die in the Lord - verse 13.

6. The harvest of earth is reaped - verses 14-16.

7. The fullness of God’s wrath and vengeance is poured out - verses 17-20.

Who are the 144,000 in verse one? Are they a separate group from the 144,000 sealed in Revelation 7? I believe them to be the same. These were sealed between the sixth and seventh seals. They are still alive after the sounding of the seventh trumpet - the third woe - and the revealing of the man of sin. They live through it all. They were mature persons when sealed; and they are still alive, not having died during the course of the last half of the Great Tribulation. This fact teaches us that the period spoken of as days, months, and years are actual measurements of time just as we know time today. There have not been thousands of years of fulfillment, as some teach and preach in an attempt to spiritualize these things.  Yes, the 144,000 here are the same as those in Revelation 7. They are conspicuously marked, having the names of the Father and of the Lamb in their foreheads. They are redeemed from the earth and are no longer part of the ungodly world systems. They are a segregated group, separated from all earth’s inhabitants. They are redeemed from among men. They are pure they are virgins. In their mouth was found no guile. These attributes spell perfection.

The time when the 144,000 witnesses testify and live is the time when hell’s worst is taking place on earth. The world has gone completely mad over the miracle-working Beast, with the exception of those who refuse to receive his mark. The entire order of society is a lie. The religious system of the day is a lie. The god in charge of all of earth’s affairs is a god of lies - “Anti-” means opposite - counterfeit. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The Antichrist will come; he is the Lie - and all who believe him will be damned.  The things that John spoke of is happening today but this is only a prelude of what is to come.

These 144,000 are of The Truth in the midst of gross untruth. They stand blameless before God. A singular thing about these witnesses is the song they sing . . . a song no one but themselves could learn. They sing this song in the presence of the living ones (creatures) and the elders who are wearing golden crowns (the Bride, those of us who are believers and make up the Church). This expresses a lesser heavenly dignity. These 144,000 do not hold the same position as the Bride of Christ or (Church), the Pearl of Great Price. The Bride will be displayed in the heavenlies throughout the eternity of eternities (Ephesians 2:6,7). The Word of God does not say that these 144,000 have crowns. They sing before the throne, but are not said to be connected with the throne. Read Revelation 4:9-11, where the elders who represent the Church fall down around the throne and cast their crowns before the throne.

These 144,000 are not of the highest order of the saved and glorified: “In my Father’s house are MANY mansions” (John 14:2). In the Father’s house there are many mansions, many degrees of reward, many degrees of glory. Study carefully I Corinthians 3:11-15. Angels cannot join in the song of the redeemed. Angels never knew the joy that our salvation brings, because angels have never been lost. They were created righteous, perfect, untouched by sin. It is true that some of them went astray, but they are reserved in chains now. No one can join in the singing of the song sung by the 144,000 - not even the Church-because only this singular group can learn it. They have a song to sing which no other group can sing. They stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion. The Bride will be at the marriage supper in the sky and will dwell with the Lamb in the Pearly white City.

This is the part the pious prelate love to spiritualize.  One day Jesus will stand on Mount Zion. One day He will reign from the city of Jerusalem in Mount Zion (read Isaiah 35:10, Jeremiah 3:17, Isaiah 24:23 and Psalm 2). The 144,000 are a “firstfruit to God and to the Lamb.” What the living ones and the elders are to the Bride, these 144,000 are to the redeemed sons of Abraham. John saw this great company standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb of God.

After studying the first five verses of Revelation 14 we must admit that this group is a special, singular group. There is no other group in Heaven or on earth like them.

THE ANGEL WITH THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL

Revelation 14:6-7:

6. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
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.

In verse 6 an angel flies through the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth - every nation, kindred, tongue and people. This everlasting Gospel is to be preached to the peoples on earth at the end of the Great Tribulation period, immediately preceding the judgment of the nations when the sheep will be divided from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The everlasting Gospel is not the Gospel of the Kingdom; it is not the Gospel of the grace of God. The message is judgment - not salvation; however, even though the message is judgment, it is good news to the elect (Israel) and to the saved nations, because they have gone through – and are now in - great tribulation. The saved ones will rejoice to hear the message of the everlasting Gospel.

Verse 7 records the message of the angel: “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.”

To Be Continued