The Third Angel’s Message

“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, 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: 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.” Revelation 14:9-11

“The beast and his image”, we learn what the beast is and his image in Revelation 13. Combining descriptions in Daniel and Revelation we learn that the beast is the fourth beast that Daniel saw – the Papal Roman power (Daniel 7:2-8, 15-25). The descriptions of the image point us to the United States of America and its contradictory presentation of itself, preaching personal freedom yet imposing dictatorial rule (GC 441.1 – 442.3).

As previously mentioned, this beast is a religious system that demands worship instead of worshiping the Creator God. How do we give worship to this beast and his image? We do so by living in any manner that is in opposition to God’s laws. The main way in which the world will be made to worship this beast is the distortion of the fourth commandment. God requires rest on the seventh day, in commemoration of His creative work (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11). The beast will force the world, through the legislative power, to ‘rest’ on the first day of the week, the day which that system claims as their ‘mark of authority’ (Cogan, 1993).

The third angel’s message describes the judgement that will be poured on all who wilfully choose to believe and follow the beast’s leading and those who, without believing, still follow the beast’s dictates just to get along. Their lack of faith in the Creator God will result in their demise (Hebrews 11:6). We all know God to be merciful beyond measure (2 Samuel 24:11-14; Jonah 4:2), but the time is fast approaching that mercy will be exhausted and judgement will rain down, untempered, on those who wilfully choose not to believe God’s words.

Be Vigilant

References

Cogan, W. J. (1993). A Catechism for Adults. Aurora, Illinois, United States of America: Cogan Productions.

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