There are three messages that will be given to the world, just before the world ends. See Revelation 14:6-12, quoted below. Immediately following the preaching of these messages, the world will be ready for the final harvest of both good and evil: Rev 14:14-20.
There is a parallel between the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-10), the three angels messages (Rev 14:6-12) and the three frog-like spirits that John saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, beast and false prophet (Rev 16:13,14).
I will explain these parallels. Also, in this first lesson, I will contrast and clarify the last great controversy between good and evil. There should be no reason for confusion as to which is which. The three demons messages and the three angels messages are remarkably distinct.
Just as Jesus countered Satans three temptations in the wilderness, the three angels messages (Rev 14:6-12) oppose the three relentless spirits that are urging conformity to the sentiments of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.
"And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty." Revelation 16:13,14.
Dragon
The first demons message is that there is no judgment. There are no restraints. We are to serve ourselves and put ourselves first (Isaiah 14:12-14 cf. Ezekiel 28:1-19). Its like what the serpent said to Eve in the garden. "You surely shall not die!" Look at the great reward for disobedience! (Genesis 3:4-6).
The greatest conveyer of the live as you please, live for yourself, heaven is your home message today is television. We may overcome this sentiment easily because of the precept and example and atonement of Christ. Consider Christs defense to Satans first temptation in the desert:
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. "
This parallels the theme in the first angels message of putting God first and not me or you or any earthly power:
Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 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 heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Rev 14:6-7).
This message was anticipated in Old Testament times and is still true. Consider the first edition. What is the whole duty of man? Solomon wrote, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Beast
The second demons message is that presumption is justifiable, permissible and holy. Consider the second temptation:
Matthew 4:5-7
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. " Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. "
Babylon is a kingdom of presumption.
The second angels message strikes against this confidence by announcing, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great." See Revelation chapter 18. Much of the character of Babylon is vividly exposed there.
Note: The beast is the true representative and visible ruler of Babylon (Rev 16:10). That means that the presumption of the beast is answered in the second angels message.
False Prophet
The third demons message is that this world is wonderful and that to be successful you must compromise integrity and strict obedience.
Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. "
The false prophet power uses coercion and deception to compel the world to worship the beast (Rev 13:11-17). And to worship the beast is to worship the dragon (Rev 13:4).
The parallel is complete. The third angels message is directly opposed to the false prophets command that we worship the beast and explicitly says that worshiping the beast is a bad idea.
Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of Gods wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Rev 14:9-11.
Here are all three angels messages.
There is a parallel between the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-10), the three angels messages (Rev 14:6-12) and the three frog-like spirits that John saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, beast and false prophet (Rev 16:13,14).
I will explain these parallels. Also, in this first lesson, I will contrast and clarify the last great controversy between good and evil. There should be no reason for confusion as to which is which. The three demons messages and the three angels messages are remarkably distinct.
Just as Jesus countered Satans three temptations in the wilderness, the three angels messages (Rev 14:6-12) oppose the three relentless spirits that are urging conformity to the sentiments of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.
"And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty." Revelation 16:13,14.
Dragon
The first demons message is that there is no judgment. There are no restraints. We are to serve ourselves and put ourselves first (Isaiah 14:12-14 cf. Ezekiel 28:1-19). Its like what the serpent said to Eve in the garden. "You surely shall not die!" Look at the great reward for disobedience! (Genesis 3:4-6).
The greatest conveyer of the live as you please, live for yourself, heaven is your home message today is television. We may overcome this sentiment easily because of the precept and example and atonement of Christ. Consider Christs defense to Satans first temptation in the desert:
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. "
This parallels the theme in the first angels message of putting God first and not me or you or any earthly power:
Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 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 heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Rev 14:6-7).
This message was anticipated in Old Testament times and is still true. Consider the first edition. What is the whole duty of man? Solomon wrote, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Beast
The second demons message is that presumption is justifiable, permissible and holy. Consider the second temptation:
Matthew 4:5-7
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. " Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. "
Babylon is a kingdom of presumption.
The second angels message strikes against this confidence by announcing, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great." See Revelation chapter 18. Much of the character of Babylon is vividly exposed there.
Note: The beast is the true representative and visible ruler of Babylon (Rev 16:10). That means that the presumption of the beast is answered in the second angels message.
False Prophet
The third demons message is that this world is wonderful and that to be successful you must compromise integrity and strict obedience.
Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. "
The false prophet power uses coercion and deception to compel the world to worship the beast (Rev 13:11-17). And to worship the beast is to worship the dragon (Rev 13:4).
The parallel is complete. The third angels message is directly opposed to the false prophets command that we worship the beast and explicitly says that worshiping the beast is a bad idea.
Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of Gods wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Rev 14:9-11.
Here are all three angels messages.
