Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 14:6-8”
Categories: Revelation“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; 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.’ And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.’”
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John saw the vision of “another angel flying in midheaven” (verse 6). Homer Hailey says that midheaven “indicates that point where the sun has reached the meridian, ‘the highest point in the heavens,’ which it occupies at noon (Thayer). At this point the angel can be seen and heard throughout the earth, for the message is ‘unto them that dwell on the earth…” The apostle describes the angel’s message as “an eternal gospel,” but there is clearly only one. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, “even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” This angel is a symbol for all of God’s “messengers” who announce the word of judgment and salvation throughout the world, even in times of intense persecution.
This is THE Good News that, at the behest of its Originator and focal point, was to be carried “into all the world,” and preached “unto every creature” under heaven (Mark 16:16). Just as the beast persuaded “all who dwell upon the earth” to worship at his feet, including people of “every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (Revelation 13:7-8), likewise the Gospel is intended for and made available to “every nation and tribe and tongue and people.” The blessed Gospel is for all, and the Lord will turn none away whose good heart is pierced by its penetrating, transformational, saving power. Anyone can resist the pressures to bow down to the gods of materialism, popularity, prestige, self-indulgence and self-preservation if they are so inclined, and if they have the vision to see beyond the passing pleasures of the impermanent present. But God sets life and death before all people, and each and every one must decide for himself to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Even though the Gospel message is “good news” for those who choose to “fear God and give Him glory” (verse 7), it declares certain and unavoidable “judgment” and destruction upon all the disobedient, idolaters and abhorrent oppressors of God’s people. The angelic herald declared “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great” (verse 8). Robert Hark rider wrote: “This is the first of six times ‘Babylon’ is named in Revelation (16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21)… The angel uses the same words as did Isaiah who prophesied the downfall of ancient Babylon on the Euphrates; ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen’ (Isa. 21:9). The victory of God over His enemies is so certain that it can be announced before the battle is fought. Even as Isaiah prophesied the destruction of literal Babylon about two hundred years before it took place, John likewise speaks of the downfall of Rome, the figurative Babylon, in the same manner… By seducing the world with her corrupt practices, Rome was like a prostitute. The ‘wine of the wrath’ points to the pouring forth of God’s wrath as fully explained in Romans 1:18-31.”
Please read Revelation 14:9-13 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
