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Our Mission: Revelation 14:6-12
If I Were Told the Future - Lesson 99
The
Hour of His Judgment Has Come!
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Let's ask God to help us:
Father,
We now understand the importance of the three angels' message, because it is Your final
call to this world before the return of Jesus.
Please allow us today to probe the message of the first angel, and, with the guidance of
Your Spirit, to grasp its impact in our lives.
In Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 14:6
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
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In our last lesson, we learned that God, out of His immense love
for us, made sure to pass on a special message to the inhabitants of the earth living in
the last days of this world's history.
This message is contained in Revelation chapter 14, and is made up of three parts.
Today, we will study the first part of this final warning.
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Revelation 14:7
[The angel was] saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.»
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The message of the first angel is short. In fact, this single
verse holds its entire content.
But if we study it more closely, we will discover that this message is much richer than it
seems at first sight...
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Revelation 14:7
[The angel was] saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God (...).»
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1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
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First, each inhabitant of the earth is called to fear God.
This fear is not of the kind described in the second verse, synonymous with anguish,
distress and dread.
This fear is, rather, the expression of deep respect towards our Almighty God.
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1 Samuel 12:24
Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
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Psalm 130:3,4
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.
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The fear of God, that is, the deep respect we must pay to Him, is justified, among other things, by the fact that He is almighty and that He is the only One who can forgive our sins.
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Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
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Job 28:28
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.
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The main way to demonstrate our respectful fear towards God is to
depart from evil, and to follow God's will as expressed in His Ten Commandments.
The Bible confirms this truth many times...
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The fear of God is expressed through obedience to His commandments:
«Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God,
to walk in His ways and to fear Him.» (DEUTERONOMY 8:6)
«You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey
His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.» (DEUTERONOMY 13:4)
«(...) that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments
which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and
that your days may be prolonged.» (DEUTERONOMY 6:2)
«They have not been humbled, to this day, nor have they feared; they have not walked in
My law or in My statutes that I set before you.» (JEREMIAH 44:10)
«Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for
this is the whole duty of man.» (ECCLESIASTES 12:13)
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Deuteronomy 6:24
And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
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Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
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God asks us to fear Him by putting all His commandments into practice, because He knows that this is the only way leading to happiness.
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Revelation 14:7
[The angel was] saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him.»
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Revelation 19:5,7
Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both
small and great! (...)
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and
His wife has made herself ready.
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In addition to fearing God, the first angel calls us to give
glory to Him.
The second passage shows that the association between the fear of God and giving Him glory
indicates the closeness of His eternal kingdom.
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«Fearing God and giving Him glory» announces our imminent deliverance:
«"So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit
of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to
those who turn from transgression in Jacob", says the Lord.» (ISAIAH 59:19,20)
«Therefore the strong people will glorify You; the city of the terrible nations will fear
You. For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a
refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a
storm against the wall.» (ISAIAH 25:3,4)
«Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.»
(PSALM 85:9)
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John 17:4
I have glorified You on the earth.
I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
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Psalm 50:23
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.
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How can we give glory to God?
Jesus' answer is very simple: by finishing the work that God has given us to do.
Conscientious work in God's harvest, motivated by love, is the best way to glorify our
Savior and Lord.
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1 Corinthians 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
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1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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By watching over our deeds, words, and even our thoughts, in order to always keep them in harmony with God's will, we give glory to God continuously, and thus we obey the message of the first angel.
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2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
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2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me
for His heavenly kingdom.
To Him be glory forever and ever.
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By giving glory to God in this way, we will be transformed into His image, and we will reflect His glory more and more in our lives.
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1 Peter 2:12
(...) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
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2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
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Our good works, performed for the glory of God, will quickly have a multiplying effect, bringing others to give glory to God in turn.
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Revelation 14:7
[The angel was] saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come.»
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James 2:12
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
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Now, why must we fear God and give glory to Him? «For the hour
of His judgment has come.»
Indeed, at present, the case of each believer is being judged in the heavenly sanctuary,
in order to determine the genuineness of each conversion.
And the supreme basis of this judgment is God's law.
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Exodus 32:32,33
«Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray,
blot me out of Your book which You have written.»
And the Lord said to Moses, «Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My
book.»
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Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
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Since 1844, the judgment of the believers has caused the names of those who aren't really converted to be blotted out from the Lamb's Book of Life.
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This parallel shows that the 3 angels' message coincides with the judgment:
The
sequence of DANIEL 7 | The sequence of REVELATION 13 & 14
====================================|====================================
1. Three beasts: a lion, a bear and | 1. Three beasts: a leopard, a bear
a leopard (Daniel 7:4-6).
| and a lion (Revelation 13:2).
2. Beast with ten horns (Dan. 7:7). | 2. Beast with ten horns (Rev.13:1).
3. Arrogant little horn (Dan. 7:20).| 3. Arrogant sea beast (Rev. 13:5).
4. Saints persecuted (Daniel 7:25). | 4. Saints persecuted (Rev. 13:7).
5. A 1260-year reign (Daniel 7:25). | 5. A 1260-year reign (Rev. 13:5).
6. God's judgment in the heavenly | 6. Worldwide proclamation of the 3
sanctuary (Daniel 7:9-13,26). | angels'
message (Rev. 14:6-12).
7. Institution of God's kingdom and | 7. Return of Jesus gathering God's
the saints' reign (Dan.7:26,27). | people (Revelation
14:14-16).
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Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of
man.
For God will bring every work into judgment.
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Psalm 119:120,121
My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your
judgments.
I have done justice and righteousness.
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Other passages in the Scriptures confirm that the fear of God,
obedience to His commandments, and the coming of His judgment, are closely linked.
But the message of the first angel, which has been preached since 1844, points out
additional information: the hour of God's judgment has now come.
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Revelation 15:4-6
«Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You
alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have
been manifested.»
After these things I looked and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in
heaven was opened.
And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues.
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Just like Revelation 14, chapter 15 combines the fear of God, His
glorification, and His judgment.
But this judgment, which had come in chapter 14, is now «manifested»: the seven plagues
of God's wrath will then strike all whose name doesn't appear in the Book of Life.
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Ezekiel 28:22
Thus says the Lord God:
«Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; I will be glorified in your midst; and they shall
know that I am the Lord, when I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her.»
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Ezekiel 39:21
I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.
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After having blotted out from the Book of Life the untrue converts' names, God will execute His judgments against those who didn't give Him glory.
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Revelation 14:7
[The angel was] saying with a loud voice,
«Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.»
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Finally, the message of the first angel invites each inhabitant
of the earth to worship the Creator.
This call, which has been preached since 1844, arrived at just the right moment: only 15
years later, in 1859, Charles Darwin introduced his essay «On the Origin of Species».
This essay laid the foundations of the theory of evolution, according to which the
Universe has not been created, but is instead the result of chance.
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Romans 1:20,21
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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Anyone who does not recognize the Creator God is thus unable to
give Him glory.
This person then becomes easy prey for the powers of darkness.
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Romans 1:22-25
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory
of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and
four-footed beasts and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their
bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
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God deplores the fact that men don't recognize Him as their
Creator anymore.
But, respecting their freedom of choice, He can only let them bear the consequences of
this choice.
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Revelation 4:11
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
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On the other hand, the believer who recognizes God as his Creator
pays Him honor and respect, and is then really able to give Him glory.
This way, the believer obeys the entire message of the first angel.
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Psalm 146:5,6
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.
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Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
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We must also recognize God as our Creator so that He may be our help and hope during the difficult times which are soon coming.
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1 Peter 4:16,17,19
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in this matter.
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us
first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (...)
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in
doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
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Recognizing God as our Creator is also linked with giving glory to Him, and with the announcement of the judgment «beginning at the house of God».
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Psalm 51:9,10
Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
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2 Corinthians 5:17,18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
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To recognize that God is the Creator is not enough.
We must also experience His creative power which can restore us in His image.
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Nehemiah 9:5,6,14
Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all
blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
the earth and all things on it, the seas and all that is in them. (...)
You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes and laws,
by the hand of Moses.
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Recognizing the Creator God and giving Him glory are also linked
with obedience to His commandments.
And among them, one commandment is brought out in a special way: the observance of the
Sabbath day.
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Exodus 20:8,11
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (...)
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day.
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Revelation 14:7
Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.
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Let's note that the message of the first angel clearly refers to the fourth commandment about the Sabbath, since it uses the very same words.
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Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
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Many times we have seen the importance of the Ten Commandments,
including the fourth one which requires the observance of the Sabbath.
God's commandments will play a crucial role in the last days, and the message of the first
angel already indicates this.
In fact, the conclusion of the three angels' message, contained in this verse, is
straightforward about the importance, for each one of us, of obeying all the commandments
of God.
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Proverbs 2:1-5
If you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
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How can we apply the message of the first angel in our lives?
The Bible answers: by finding the knowledge of God.
In fact, the more we come to know God, the more we will honor, respect, and fear Him.
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The knowledge of God also helps us to better give Him glory:
«And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more
in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that
you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the
fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.»
(PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11)
«His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.» (2 PETER 1:3)
«For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.» (2 CORINTHIANS 4:6)
«Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory
both now and forever.» (2 PETER 3:18)
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John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
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1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an
understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son
Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life.
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The knowledge of God allows us to better appreciate His infinite love, expressed through Jesus Christ, and to serve Him with still more joy.
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Hosea 6:3
Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning.
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Let's all seek to better know our God, so that we may be
increasingly able to apply the message of the first angel in our lives.
And this is all the more important since «His going forth is established as the
morning».
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Let's thank God:
Father,
It is written: «For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.» (2 Corinthians
5:10,11 - NIV)
Please help us to apply the message of the first angel in our lives, and also to announce
the coming of Your judgment, in order to «persuade men» to accept Your call to
salvation.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
The test of Lesson 99 is waiting for you!