The First Angel’s Message

This first angel also says that the “hour of judgment has come”. This message has been proclaimed since 1844, that Jesus has now moved into the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary to begin judging the world, and the fact that we are NOW being judged as to how we are living up to the faith we proclaim, should cause us to live every moment for Christ and keep God’s Commandments.

The First Angel’s Message in Scripture ~ Revelation 14: 6-7 …And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
 
To prepare a people to stand in the day of God, a great work of reform was to be accomplished. God saw that many of His professed people were not building for eternity, and in His mercy He was about to send a message of warning to arouse them from their stupor and lead them to make ready for the coming of the Lord.
 
This warning is brought to view in Revelation 14. Here is a threefold message represented as proclaimed by heavenly beings and immediately followed by the coming of the Son of man to reap “the harvest of the earth.” The first of these warnings announces the approaching judgment. The prophet beheld an angel flying “in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14: 6-7) ~ The Great Controversy, Page 311
This is our work. Let us do it, teaching the things that Christ has commanded. The Lord will give us strength and grace. Let us trust Him. There is to be a turning and an overturning; but our work is not to stop. We are to instruct and enlighten those who have not heard the truth for this time. …
 
At this crisis all are called upon to take their position. We must stand apart from those who are determined to make shipwreck of the faith. We must not sell our Lord at any price. We are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth—not a pillar moved. ~ Letter 237, July 14, 1904.19
 
This message is declared to be a part of “the everlasting gospel.” The work of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels, but has been entrusted to men. Holy angels have been employed in directing this work, they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men; but the actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ upon the earth. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 311-312

Think About This:

1. By the first angel, men are called upon to “fear God, and give glory to Him” [Revelation 14:7], and to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In order to do this, they must obey His law. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 436
 
2. In Revelation 14, men are called upon to worship the Creator; and the prophecy brings to view a class that, as the result of the threefold message, are keeping the commandments of God. One of these commandments points directly to God as the Creator. It follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His commandments, will especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 437-438
 
3. The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the “everlasting gospel” [Revelation 14:6]; and it announces the opening of the judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 355
 
4. The work of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels, but has been entrusted to men. Holy angels have been employed in directing this work, they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men; but the actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ upon the earth.  Faithful men, who were obedient to the prompting of God’s Spirit and the teachings of His word, were to proclaim this warning to the world. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 312
 
5. By the purity, the glory, and the power of the heavenly messenger, divine wisdom has been pleased to represent the exalted character of the work to be accomplished by the message, and the power and glory that were to attend it. And the angel’s flight 1n the midst of heaven,” the “loud voice” with which the warning is uttered, and its promulgation to all “that dwell on the earth,” “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6,7)-give evidence of the rapidity and world-wide extent of the movement. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 355