6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 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. 11 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.”
12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Comment: Three angels with three different messages. The first angel declares the gospel to every nation and tribe and language and people. There are apparently still a few groups of people who haven’t heard the message of Jesus but TV and radio and phones are pretty Universal so maybe all people have by now had the opportunity to hear the wonderful news of the gospel.
The second angel calls out that Babylon, the Biblical name used in typology for all human wickedness certainly hasn’t completely ceased to be a reality. It is true that Jesus has conquered death and is certainly going to completely conquer evil but one needs only to turn on any form of media to realize that although Babylon’s fall is certain it isn’t complete at the moment! Sexual immorality is rising high these days, having been ‘legally’ approved!
The third angel (remember that the word for ‘angel’ is the same as the word for ‘messenger’) gives the longest announcement; the core of which is ‘Be very, very careful that you don’t get associated with the beast! The wrath of God will surely fall on your head if you do get involved in ‘beastly’ worship!
The next paragraph (v12) reads ‘Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.‘ Verse 13 is also in a separate paragraph and tells the blessedness of those who die believing in Jesus! It says ‘from now on’ and I’m inclined to believe that the now is associated with the fact that to die in Jesus has always been ‘blessed’ for that surely means to be in heaven with Him! But the book of Revelation graphically tells what judgement God brings down on the Dragon, the Beasts and their followers! If the ‘now’ is referring to this judgement time then to be removed from that scene into the Presence of Jesus is blessed indeed!
Proverbs 22: 3 – The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Prayer: Thank You for Your clear warnings about what is going to be. Please give me the strength to fulfill my vow of enduring faithfulness!