Morning Bible Study: Revelation 14: 6-13

The Messages of the Three Angels
6  And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world-to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 

7  "Fear God," he shouted. "Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water." 

8  Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, "Babylon is fallen-that great city is fallen-because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality." 

9  Then a third angel followed them, shouting, "Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand 

10  must drink the wine of God's anger. It has been poured full strength into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 

11  The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name." 

12  This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” NLT

Commentary

(the following commentary is from www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/revelation-lbw.htm)

"Verse 6 John saw the first of three angels. The angel was flying in the sky above the earth. The angel came to tell people about the plans of God. God said that his people should have eternal life. This is good news to all who believe God’s words. And they will serve God. The angel made certain that all the peoples of the earth heard him. Every person had the opportunity to hear the good news.

The angel called all people to repent while there was time. This was their last chance. Soon it would be too late.

Verse 7 This is the message that the angel brought. All people must be afraid of God and everyone must give him honor. They must respect him as the Lord of all. They must know that he is the God of all power.

The people were surprised at the power of the beast. But God is so much more powerful than the beast. And God will be the judge of each person. The time had almost come when he would do this. Those who oppose God cannot expect a happy future.

God made the heavens and the earth. He made the seas and the rivers. God made the whole world, and it belongs to him. So, all people ought to worship him. They should turn to God and they should serve him alone.

Verse 8 Then the second angel declared that Babylon had fallen. Babylon was a great city in the ancient region called Mesopotamia. It had been the capital of the kingdom called Babylon. It was an evil place of luxury and sin. Worse than that, it was the great enemy of God’s people.

The name Babylon here means the center (most important place) of all on earth that opposed the real God. It was the center of all false beliefs. It was the center of the world’s religion and commerce.

God destroyed the city called Babylon, because it was the center of such evil practices. But all the nations of the world had become like Babylon. So, all the nations will suffer the same fate as Babylon. God is angry with them and he will destroy them.

Verses 9-10 Then a third angel came. And he spoke to those who had the mark of the beast.

The beast would try to kill those who had not received his mark. But those who had received the mark of the beast would have a worse fate. They will suffer the anger of God. He will punish them with pains that will never end. When God punished the cities called Sodom and Gomorrah, he burned them with sulphur (Genesis 19:28). The pains of those who have the mark of the beast will be like that. This will be the fate of those who denied Christ.

The fire and sulphur is a description of the place of punishment. God will send the Antichrist and the false prophet there. All who follow the beast (Antichrist) will go there as well.

The Lamb and his angels will see them suffer.

Verse 11 For those who refuse the love of God their punishment will never end. They chose evil ways rather than good ways. They will receive evil things and not good rewards. Their end is to be without God. That place is hell where the fire never stops (Mark 9:44).

Verse 12 God’s people may suffer much here on earth. But the terrible pain of those who do not believe will be far worse. God’s people must be patient and they must trust God. It would be foolish to lose their confidence in the Lord. Their troubles would soon be over and they will live with God.

Verse 13 Death is not the end. All who believe in God will rise again from death. God will raise them up to live in a place of rest and happiness. The Holy Spirit agrees that this is so. This is true about all God’s people. But verse 13 is mainly about people who die because of their faith in Jesus. God will make sure that they receive their reward. Their lives on this earth were hard. But God has prepared a place where they will be content."