Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
Three Flying Angels # 1
Rev 14:6-13

Introduction
I have found this chapter of the Book of Revelation difficult to organize for a sermon presentation. As I studied further one pastor called attention to the six angels in this passage. I then looked again and decide to preach two sermons about three angels each. We begin with verse six.

1.    The Activities with the . . First Angel. 14:6 - 7

A.    The Angels . . Action. v 6
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--

        1.    He Flies In Mid-Heaven.
        2    He has the everlasting Gospel to Preach.
            a.    To every tribe, etc.
            b.    Do angels preach the Gospel?
                1) Not usually. Lk. 2:10
                    This may not be the salvation gospel.
                    This is a different time in the Tribulation.
                    O. T. God Used A donkey to speak to Baalam
                    He can use whoever and what ever He desires.

B.    The Angels . . Announcement. v 7
7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

    1.    The . . Conviction Part of the Announcement.
            "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;"

    2.    The . . Celebration Part of the Announcement.
        ". . . give glory to Him, . . .and worship Him "

    3.    The . . Credential Part of the Announcement.
        "who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Illustration Gospel, Built For The Proprietor: The Gospel Of God
Some weeks ago there was a man who, speaking about a house, said, "It was built for the proprietor," and he meant that as a recommendation. I asked him, "What advantage would he have?"

"Well," he replied, "you surely know that if a man put up a house for himself, he would put it up better than if he were doing it for another. In a house that was built for the proprietor I expect extra conveniences, I expect no shoddy workmanship, no jerry masonry, I expect that when the proprietor built the house for his own occupation, it was worth going in for." I said to the man, "You reason rightly, my friend."

For the same reason I am going to stick to the gospel, that is why I am not going to flit. You may flit if you like. The Gospel of God was made and fashioned for his own occupation in the person of the Holy Ghost. I claim this, whatever your new doctrine, whatever the doctrine you are peddling in our country today may claim, the Holy Ghost will seal nothing but the Gospel of God, nothing but the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost will not inhabit your philosophy, will not dwell in your man-made theology. -- J. Robertson. By J. Wilbur Chapan, "Present Day Parables."

Application

God wants us to share the Gospel. Angels are messengers and so are we.
 
 

2.    The Activities with the . . Second Angel. 14:8

A.    Tells the . . Story of the Collapse of Babylon. v 8 a
        8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,

B.    Tells the . . Stimulus for the Collapse of Babylon. v 8 b
        ". . . because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
 
Illustration God, Wrath of:
A little Scottish boy wouldn't eat his prunes, so his mother sent him off to bed saying, "God is angry at you." Soon after the boy went to his room a violent storm broke out. Amidst flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, the mother looked into the boy's room, worried that he would be terrified. When she opened the door she found him looking out the window muttering, "My, such a fuss to make over a few prunes."

Illustration Judgement, Punishment, Aesop's Fables: The Farmer and the Crows
Some crows made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying to each other, "It is time for us to leave; for this man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in earnest what he can do."

When Jesus came to earth the first time, He repeatedly warned people to repent and convert because a terrible day of Judgement was coming. Well, there are simply too many who no longer believe in Hell or Judgement Day. However, the day will come when Christ will no longer threaten. Instead, He will come back to judge evildoers and cast them into hell!

Application

Judgement is coming for symbolic Babylon, and for all. We can be prepared.
 
 

3.    The Activities with the . . Third Angel. 14:9-14

A.    The Angel . . Admonishes. v 9-11
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

        1.    The . . Reason for the Admonishing. v 9-10 a
            9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and
            his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also
            drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His
            indignation.

        2.    The . . Retribution of the Admonishing. v 10 b - 11
        ". . . He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
            presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever;
            and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives
            the mark of his name."

            a.    The . . Place of the Retribution. v 10 b
                ". . . He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in
                the presence of the Lamb.

            b.    The . . Permanence of the Retribution. v 11
                11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or
                night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

3.    The Angel . . Awards. v 12
        12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the
        faith of Jesus.

A.    Awards the . . Patience of the Saints. v 12 a
        "Here is the patience of the saints;. . . "

B.    Awards the . . Practice of the Saints. v 12 a
        ". . . here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

C.    The Angel . . Associates. v 13
        13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the
        Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works
        follow them."

            1.    The . . Place of their Association. v 13 a
            "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who
            die in the Lord from now on.' . . ."

Illustration
A pastor went looking for his 5 year old son and his playmates. He came upon them all intent in something so he stood back and just listened. He heard his son speaking in a kind of ministerial tone what seemed to be a sort of funeral service. He then heard his son say In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and in the hole he goes. The boys were burrying a bird they had found.

          2.    The Prize of their . . Association. v 13 b
            "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow
            them."

        3.    The Prize of . . Approval of the Spirit.
                ". . . "Yes," says the Spirit,. . ."

        4.    The Prize of . . Acknowledgement of their Works
            ". . . that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

            a.    SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT ABOUT WORKS:  They follow not precede.

Illustration Rewards, Heaven, Charity: Unselfishness Rewarded
It is said that a certain king was troubled about the carelessness and thoughtlessness of his servants. To seek to arouse them he fell upon the following plan: He took a large stone and placed it in the middle of the road. Then he retired out of sight to watch.

Soon a gentleman on his fine horse came along but turned aside with a rather critical feeling, wondering why the king did not have his roads better cared for. Several passed with the same actions and feelings. Finally a poor peasant with a heavy load came along. It was difficult to get his load back on his back when once put off, but he said to himself, "This rock may cause someone to fall and get hurt."

So he put his burden aside and rolled the huge stone off the road, feeling happy. But after rolling the stone away he looked where it had been and saw a little package neatly tied up. It was under the stone. He opened it and found it contained many gold coins and a note from the king which read, "The contents of this package is for the one who was sufficiently interested to remove the stone."

Selfishness is a fearful sin, but unselfish deeds pay a rich reward.
William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."

Application

What kind of spiritual works will follow you?

The Judgement Seat of Christ will be for every Christian.