SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/16/2015
8:13 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The First Angel who preaches the Gospel PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Revelation 14:6-7
Message
of the verses: “6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach
to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and
people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has
come; worship Him
who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."”
In order for us to understand the
phrase “another angel” I wish to quote John MacArthur who writes “The specific
angel or group of angels that John san another angel distinct from is not
specified. While angels appear in every
chapter from chapters 4-12, the nearest antecedent is the reference to Michael
and his angels (12:7). The phrase could
also point back to the seventh angel (11:15).
In any case, another of the countless myriads of angels (5:11) is
selected for a very special purpose.”
I also want to quote from my Spiritual Diary dated August
29, 2005 on what I wrote briefly on these two verses: “It is hard to know for sure how much angels
are involved in the process of salvation here on earth at this time, but I
would think that angels have a lot to do with it especially in the area of
“circumstances.” At this point in the
tribulations period, just before the last judgments are to be sent upon planet
earth and it’s inhabitants an angel will fly in the midheaven to give out the
eternal message of the Gospel to all those who are on the earth. The midheaven is where the sun is at noon, or
the highest point in heaven. Verse seven
gives part of his message and it is about not fearing, not fearing Satan, the
Antichrist, or other circumstances that are going on at this time because the
time of God’s judgment is about to unfold on planet earth and one may not be
able to save his body, but if one accepts the message of the Gospel their soul
will be delivered to be with Jesus Christ forever. The angel appeals to the people to worship
the God of creation, the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and
the springs of water. To understand that
God did in fact create the heavens and the earth is a step closer to realizing
what one needs to know concerning how to be saved.”
Now we will look into this text a bit more thoroughly at
this time. As stated in the above quote the
word “midheaven” which is Mesouranema
In the Greek refers to the point in sky where the sun reaches its meridian,
apex, or high point at noon. Now the
reason for this is so that all will be able to see this angel in the sky. Now we have learned from chapter twelve that
Satan and his demons, or fallen angels have been kicked out of heaven and are
on planet earth so the battle that goes on in the heavens is over at this point
in the tribulation period and this will give this angel free access to fly
uninhibited in the sky. Let us briefly
look at Daniel 10:12-13 to see how this battle went on during Daniel’s time,
and we can rest assured that it still goes on in today’s world “12 Then he said
to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your
heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your
words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was
withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief
princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” I also want to quote from Paul’s writing to
the Ephesian church from chapter six and verses 10-12 where Paul speaks of the
battles going on “10 Finally, be strong
in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to
stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Now we have just reviewed some of the things that we have
learned as far as what went on, on planet earth during the Tribulation period
up to just before the seventh trumpet is blown which brings about the seven
last judgments, the bowl judgments and we know that this will be the worst time
ever on planet earth, but during this time God was not without His witnesses as
He had the two witnesses, along with the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists, and also
those who have been saved were telling others about the saving grace of the
Lord, but now we see that God gives unsaved man another chance to hear the
gospel preached, and this time by an angel.
The problem that we have seen thus far is that after the judgments of
God came upon the earth that men actually knew that they were from God, but
rejected the good news of the gospel. “20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by
these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship
demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of
wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor
of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts (Rev. 9:20-21).” “Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they
blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did
not repent so as to give Him glory. and
they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and
they did not repent of their deeds (Rev. 16:9 and 11).”
John MacArthur writes “As he flies through the sky, the
angel will have ‘an eternal gospel to preach.’
This is the only occurrence of the noun euangelion (gospel) in John’s writings, though the related verb
translated ‘to preach’ also appears in 10:7.
Like a multifaceted jewel, Scripture describes the gospel in various
terms, each looking at it from a different viewpoint.” The following are some verses which speak of
the gospel “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and proclaiming the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind
of sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23.”
“The beginning of the gospel
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1).” “Now after John had been
taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, (Mark 1:14).” "But I do not consider my life of any
account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry
which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God
(Acts 20:24).” “in whose case the god of
this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see
the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4).” “In Him, you also, after listening to the
message of truth, the
gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him
with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Eph. 1:13).”
“and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
(Eph. 6:15).” “according to the glorious gospel of
the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted (1 Tim. 1:11).” As we look at these different facets of the
gospel in the different areas of the NT we can see that what this angel was
preaching was the true gospel of Jesus Christ in order for men to listen to it
and be saved. He will be proclaiming the
same thing that the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists are proclaiming and this is the
same gospel that has been proclaimed throughout history, even in the OT
times. When we see it in the OT we know
that people were looking ahead to the Messiah to come to pay for their
sins. John MacArthur writes “That
message of forgiveness was given even in Old Testament times based on new covenant
terms (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27).
Its benefits were applied to all who truly repented and sought forgiveness
and grace from God, even though the Savior had not yet died. In the purpose of God, the merits of the Lamb
slain at Calvary have been granted to all true repenters in all ages.” We will continue looking at these verses in
our next SD.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: The gospel that
is seen in the Bible is the most important thing in all of the world, for in it
we find the truth that God, in His mercy, and grace, through faith has provided
a way for sinful man to become the children of God. There is nothing more important in all the
world.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
To love the Lord with all of my heart,
soul, mind, and strength, and to live in the love of the Lord.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Martha” (John 11:24-25).
Today’s Bible
question: “Who said ‘Thou art not able
to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war
from his youth’?”
Answer in our next SD.
7/16/2015 9:04 AM
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