Before we go on I feel I need to mention that there is controversy with the third angel. The Seventh-Day Adventist have a different interpretation about the message of the third angel. They believe that the message from the angel is the Sabbath message and the we should worship the Beast and receive the mark in recognition of the holiness of the first day of the week. (vs 9) However in verse 10 & 11 there is talk of the torment that will ensue with the taking the mark and worshipping of the Beast. It appears they think that this is the judgment will come to an end. But when you read on, it appears to be different. NEVER does the reading of the Holy Bible refer to our Heavenly Father with such a word as Beast. Please feel free to dive into this and reach your own conclusion but as for me, I will continue on with the line of thought that it is a pronouncement of what is going to happen if you do worship the Beast and take the mark. And taking that mark will NOT be to glorify God.
Rev14:13And 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!"
From here on out, the times will continue to be really tough, the darkest part is yet to come. Especially for those who are believers in Christ. What this verse is saying is that it would be better for you to die now while your faith is strong than to live through this and enter the Earthly kingdom after the Great Tribulation is done. If you were to die now, in this time of the Tribulation, strong in your faith in Christ, you would go to your place in the Heavenly Kingdom and get a much needed rest!
What does the angel mean by labors, and deeds? If we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven by works alone, then why mention works here? The word deeds used here is a word meaning, character. When you pass, your character is all you will have, just your true "self".
Rev 14:14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Here is the words of the final judgment. Here is the Son of Man raping and he will direct the next angels to reap as well. All judgment is for the Son who died on the cross on Calvary for us.
Rev 14:15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe."
We are reading about the just being gathered, and leaving the wicked, see below.
Rev 14:16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe."
Rev14:13And 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!"
From here on out, the times will continue to be really tough, the darkest part is yet to come. Especially for those who are believers in Christ. What this verse is saying is that it would be better for you to die now while your faith is strong than to live through this and enter the Earthly kingdom after the Great Tribulation is done. If you were to die now, in this time of the Tribulation, strong in your faith in Christ, you would go to your place in the Heavenly Kingdom and get a much needed rest!
What does the angel mean by labors, and deeds? If we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven by works alone, then why mention works here? The word deeds used here is a word meaning, character. When you pass, your character is all you will have, just your true "self".
Rev 14:14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Here is the words of the final judgment. Here is the Son of Man raping and he will direct the next angels to reap as well. All judgment is for the Son who died on the cross on Calvary for us.
Rev 14:15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe."
The sickle reaping in verse 15 is a symbolic picture of the battle of Armageddon.
We are reading about the just being gathered, and leaving the wicked, see below.
Rev 14:16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe."
The angel coming out from the alter may be Moses alter built for the tabernacle and the fire may be of the altar to minister at in Rev 8:3-5.
The final words in verse 18 are a second picture of the battle of Armageddon.
Lets stop here, the next blog we will discuss the actuial reaping of the Son of Man verses the reaping the angels are doing.
Blessing on all till next time,
Calabash