Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 14:6 - 14:7

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 14:6 - 14:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_14:6-7

6And 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; 7and 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."

Rev_14:6 "I saw another angel flying in midheaven" In Rev_8:13 there is an eagle flying in midheaven, which implies something well visible and able to proclaim to the whole earth.

"having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth" This phrase, "an eternal gospel" is found only here. It is significant that the "gospel" here is for those who live (dwell) on earth and this is used often in Revelation of unbelievers. Some see this as a fulfillment of Mat_28:18-20 or more specifically, Mat_24:14 and Mar_13:10. The content of this gospel is much like the message of John the Baptist (cf. Luk_3:3-14) or Jesus' statement to the evil one in Mat_4:10. The message of judgment is a significant element in this gospel. Rev_14:6-7 are significant, for they show us that all of these God-sent judgments on lost mankind are for the purpose of redemption (cf. Rev_9:20-21; Rev_16:9; Rev_16:11).

In Rev_14:12 true believers are characterized as those who (1) keep (i.e., present participle) the commandments of God and (2) keep (i.e., the same present participle) faith in Jesus.

"to every nation and tribe and tongue and people" See note at Rev_10:11.

Rev_14:7 "Fear God, and give Him glory" This is an aorist passive (deponent) imperative and an Aorist active imperative. There are three aorist imperatives in Rev_14:7. Mankind is commanded to respond to God in decisive acts of faith (cf. Joh_1:12; Rom_10:9-13). In Rev_11:13 fallen mankind seems to give God glory, but is quickly drawn away by the miracles of the beast in chapter 13 (a similar theology to the Parable of the Soils in Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8).

"because the hour of His judgment has come" The term "hour" is significant in the Gospel of John (cf. Joh_2:4; Joh_4:21; Joh_4:23; Joh_5:25; Joh_5:28; Joh_7:30; Joh_8:20; Joh_12:23; Joh_12:27; Joh_13:1; Joh_16:21; Joh_16:32; Joh_17:1). It speaks of the divine timing of a preset event (the Day of the Lord, cf. Rev_14:15; Rev_9:15).

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"worship Him" This is another aorist active imperative which is a decisive command.

"who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters" This is similar to the affirmation found in Act_14:15, which quotes Gen_14:19; Exo_20:11 or Psa_146:6. God is described as creator as in Job 38-41. The only unusual phrase is "the springs of water," which some see as

1. being connected to the earlier plagues of the angels (cf. Rev_8:10)

2. in contrast to the undrinkable sea water