The Anchor of my soul – Hebrews 1:4-14

Jesus is superior to the angels

The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey and as many of the rapid-fire responses the class provided.

1. Angels

   How do you view angels?

   One class member noted that angels are commissioned with protecting believers.

   For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; (Psalms 91:11 NIV)

   For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; (Luke 4:10 NIV)

   Among a flurry of other responses, another class member noted that Jesus has control over the angels, because angels came to minister to Him after his wilderness temptation.

   Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:11 NIV)

   Why do you think the writer had to persuade his audience that Jesus is superior to angels? Do we have such temptations today in proclaiming the superiority of Jesus? What about “Jesus is the only way?” The temptation is not to deny Him outright to get along – a simple change of emphasis on the person of Christ. Here, Christ must be shown to be better than the bearers and mediators of the Old Testament – namely, the angels.

   To establish the superiority of Jesus to the angels, the author of Hebrews skillfully builds his case from a string of Old Testament passages.

   Does this tell us anything about being knowledgeable about God’s word?

2. Jesus is superior to the angels
   • Christ is the Son — Hebrews 1:4-5
     

     So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? (Hebrews 1:4‭-‬5 NIV)

     The writer establishes superiority of the name of Jesus, first, from Psalm 2:7 – Hebrews 1:5a.

     I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7 NIV)

     Psalm 2 was already a famous messianic psalm, understood to be fulfilled in the future by a descendant of David. The words were recalled at the baptism of Jesus – Mark 1:11.

     And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11 NIV)

     Jesus was always God’s Son but the phrase, “today, I have begotten you” or “today, I have become your Father” refers to Christ’s exaltation and enthronement as Son subsequent to the resurrection.

     and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:4 NIV)

     “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ (Acts 13:32‭-‬33 NIV)

     “Son” is Jesus’ name that was given exalted declaration in His resurrection and exaltation. No angel ever had that and no angel was ever promised kingship or rule over the heaven and earth. The author also grounds his argument from 2 Samuel 7:14 – “Or again (implying, to which of the angels did God ever say), “I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son.” This is also a quotation from a well-known messianic passage, commonly called the Davidic Covenant. The fulfillment of this ancient promise was celebrated in the angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary.

     He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32‭-‬33 NIV)

     How dare anyone ever think of demoting Him to the position of an archangel, much less to a good man or good teacher. What is your response when you are faced with this comment?

   • Christ is the firstborn who receives worship — Hebrews 1:6
     

     And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Hebrews 1:6 NIV)

     If the angels worship Him, He must be superior to the angels.

     Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people. (Deuteronomy 32:43 NIV)

     “Heavens, rejoice with Him, let all the angels worship Him.” These words are the final lines of verse 43 in the song of Moses and the Jews considered these final lines to be messianic. Amazingly, this key phrase, “let all the angels worship Him”, is left out of most modern texts as they follow the Masoretic text. The explanation for why this phrase was omitted is that the Jews removed the annoying reference to worshipping Christ from their Torah. All the literary and archeological sources contained the key phrase up to 150 A.D.

     Dead Sea scroll 4Q44 includes the key phrase.

     This is probably also a reference to LXX (Septuagint) of Psalm 97:7-“All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols – worship Him all you angels!” The psalmist proclaimed that all the angels were to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. By citing the Greek text, the author of Hebrews makes a sweeping claim: all supernatural beings — angelic or demonic — are inferior to the Son. He also asserts something profound about the person of the Son: He is identified as Yahweh of the Old Testament. Finally, against the unbelieving Jews who may have claimed that worshipping the Messiah as God was tantamount to idolatry, the citation of Psalm 97:7 turns the tables: to not worship the Son, who is both God and man, is blasphemy.

     The title, “firstborn”, is one of rank and honor, not chronology. It has nothing to do with time and everything to do with position. The firstborn receives the inheritance and special blessing. Christ is the firstborn of all creation because He created all things.

     The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15 NIV)

     “Again” – this is probably a reference to the second coming.

     Why do you worship Jesus? How do you worship Him?

   • Christ is served by the angels — Hebrews 1:7
     

     In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” (Hebrews 1:7 NIV)

     This is a quotation from Psalm 104:4.

     He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. (Psalms 104:4 NIV)

     Angels sometimes served the Lord when He was on the earth and they serve Him and us now. The emphasis of the writer is that angels sometimes spectacularly inhabit wind and fire to do God’s bidding but they are still only servants. Christ, on the other hand, is eternally sovereign. It is Jesus who created the angels.

     For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 NIV)

   • Christ is God, enthroned and anointed — Hebrews 1:8-9
     

     But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:8‭-‬9 NIV)

     This is a quote from Psalm 45:6-7.

     Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (Psalms 45:6‭-‬7 NIV)

     Angels minister before the throne. They do not sit on the throne. One of the main teachings of Psalm 110 is that Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed (Messiah, Christ) is now enthroned in glory. Jesus refers to this Psalm in Mark 12:35-37. When Christ ascended and entered the heavenly glory, He was anointed for His heavenly ministry with the “oil of gladness.”

     You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:9 NIV)

     Angels praise Him but they cannot share His position or that joy and His throne is forever, which means He is eternal God.

   • Christ is the Eternal Creator — Hebrews 1:10-12
     

     He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:10‭-‬12 NIV)

     Psalm 102:25-27 is cited here.

     In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. (Psalms 102:25‭-‬27 NIV)

     The angels did not form the earth – they are part of creation. Jesus Christ is the Creator and one day, He will “uncreate” the current world/universe and bring in a new creation. Revelation and 2 Peter. Everything around us changes but He will never change. He is the “same, yesterday, today and forever.”

     Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

     Christ is immutable and eternal. To the suffering Jewish believers who heard these words about Christ, they must have felt complete relief. The world was falling apart but their superior Christ remained the same – eternal and unchanging. Does this bring you any relief, comfort or peace? Explain.

   • Christ is sovereign and the angels are servants — Hebrews 1:13-14
     

     To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13‭-‬14 NIV)

     The writer quotes Psalm 110:1.

     The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Psalms 110:1 NIV)

     Jesus is at the right hand of the Father (the place of honor) which is mentioned many times in the New Testament. Angels are the ministering spirits who serve the Lord on the throne. They also minister to us who are the “heirs of salvation” through faith in Christ rules. Angels serve.

 

The Anchor of my soul – Hebrews 1:2-3

The superiority of Christ

The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey.

1. The fulfillment of promises

   Many times, the prophets of God wrote about the secrets of God while not fully understanding them. In Jesus, the secrets of God are fulfilled and understood.

   For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV)

   Every promise of God resolves itself in Christ. All the promises become “yes” – verified and fulfilled. Jesus Christ is the supreme and the final revelation.

   In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1‭-‬2 NIV)

   “In these last days” (as shared above) – in the Old Testament, the Jews saw the last days as the days when the promises would be fulfilled. “In these days,” the Messiah would come and the Kingdom would come and salvation would come and Israel would no longer be in bondage. The age of Kingdom fulfillment began when Jesus arrived and will end when we enter in the eternal heavens.

   “He has spoken to us by His Son” – Jesus is the final and last revelation of God, in whom all promises are fulfilled. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.

   Do you see Jesus as the Promise Keeper? Explain.

2. Sevenfold presentation of the excellencies of Jesus Christ
   • His Heirship — Hebrews 1:2a-b
     

     but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, (Hebrews 1:2a-b NIV)

     Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalms 2:8 NIV)

     And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. (Psalms 89:27 NIV)

     “First born” does not mean that Christ did not exist before He was born in Bethlehem. This is a legal term – especially those of inheritance and authority – not a chronological term.

     For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 NIV)

     For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36 NIV)

     Remember in Revelation 5:7-14, Jesus, the Lamb, took the scroll out of the right hand of God? Why? Because He, and He alone, had a right to take it – He is the Heir of the earth. In Revelation 11:15, the earth is His.

     As Redeemer, He has also earned a vast inheritance of souls renewed through His atoning work of reconciliation on the cross. We are His inheritance! We are His treasure.

     I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, (Ephesians 1:18 NIV)

     How does this truth impact you?

   • His Creatorship — Hebrews 1:2c
     

     and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:‬2c NIV)

     “Through whom He made the universe” – Christ is the agent through whom God created the universe.

     In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1‭-‬3 NIV)

     He created everything material and spiritual. He created time, space, energy and matter.

   • His Radiance — Hebrews 1:3a
     

     The Son is the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3a NIV)

     While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 NIV)

     In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4‭-‬5 NIV)

     Without the Son of God, there is only darkness. The great tragedy is that most people do not want to see, much less live in God’s light.

     The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV)

     His light gives us purpose, meaning, joy, peace and fellowship for all eternity.

     Have you experienced darkness and yet have been rescued by the light of Christ? Explain.

   • His Being — Hebrews 1:3b
     

     and the exact representation of his being, (Hebrews 1:3b NIV)

     “The exact representation of God’s being” – He is the express image of God.

     The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15 NIV)

     He is the exact reproduction of God.

     For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (Colossians 2:9 NIV)

     He is the exact imprint of His nature. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. We know how he thinks; we know how He talks; we know how He relates to people. God, the Father has spoken in His Son.

   • His Administration — Hebrews 1:3c
     

     sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3c NIV)

     He is sustaining all things by His powerful word – the Greek word for “sustaining” (φέρων) is in the present tense, implying continuous action. How does the universe stay in the kind of fantastically delicate balance? (Example: the distance from the sun to the earth – if it was any closer, the earth would be incinerated; farther away, we would freeze; the tilt of the earth at 23 degrees; the distance of the moon in relation to the ocean tides; the carbon dioxide and oxygen balance, etc.) The answer: Jesus Christ maintains it all. The universe is a cosmos instead of chaos, an ordered and reliable system because Jesus upholds it and sustains it.

     A life, just as the universe, that is not sustained by Jesus Christ is chaos. Remember this wonderful promise:

     being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

     We, as believers, join Jude in his excitement when he proclaimed:

     To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24‭-‬25 NIV)

     Do you believe Jesus sustains you? Explain.

   • His Sacrifice — Hebrews 1:3d
     

     After he had provided purification for sins, (Hebrews 1:3d NIV)

     He provided purification for sins –

     He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:12‭-‬14 NIV)

     But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26b NIV)

     But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 NIV)

     For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18‭-‬19 NIV)

     Neither earthly humans nor heavenly angels could have accomplished this. A greater work than making and upholding the universe is that of purging mankind of sin.

     We are all sinners. We either pay the penalty for our own sins, which is eternal death, or we accept Jesus Christ’s payment for them in sacrificing Himself, for which we have eternal life.

     Jesus dealt with the sin problem once and for all. It had to be done. We could never fellowship with God unless sin was dealt with. So, Christ went to the cross and bore the penalty of sin for all who would accept His sacrifice, believe in Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior. Sin was purged, wiped out.

     What is your response to this?

   • His Exaltation — Hebrews 1:3e
     

     he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3e NIV)

     He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. The Majesty in heaven is God, the Father. Right hand is the power side.

     He “sat down.” He is the perfect High Priest. In the priestly procedure under the Old Covenant, there were no seats in the Tabernacle or the Temple sanctuaries because it was never appropriate for the priest to sit. His responsibility was to sacrifice and sacrifice over and over again. But Jesus offered one sacrifice and said, “It is finished.” It was done.

     Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13 NIV)

3. What does this mean to us?

   God says that His Son is preeminent in all things. So, what does that mean to us? It means everything. To receive Him is to enter into all that He is and has. To reject Him is to be shut out from His presence into an eternal hell. There are no other choices.

 

Are you a Christian soldier or a Christian citizen combatant?

Do you march as a soldier of Christ’s army or are you a secret service agent? You may well know which of these fits for you; however, if you need some prodding, here are some indicators.

Who provides your armor and equipment?

If you comfortably wear the righteousness that God gave you and don’t try to manufacture your own righteousness, you know that you march as a soldier of Christ. Likewise, if you wear the belt of truth, you know yourself to be a soldier of Christ. If you take up the shield of faith, you march for Christ. If you wear the helmet of Salvation, you march for Christ. If you weild the sword of the Spirit, you march for Christ.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:10‭-‬20 NIV)

Who continually supplies your needs

The Christian knows that his or her supplies come from God

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. (Romans 9:15-16 NIV)

The carnal and the foolish depend on themselves

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:22 NIV)

Who do you trust

The Christian Soldier trusts in the Lord

The Christian soldier holds several dimensions to his or her trust in God. This may begin with a learned trust that stems from a daily time in the word.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:5‭-‬7 NIV)

The previously-mentioned trust may be based on the fact that God gave all in order to ransom us when we did not deserve it.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

The undercover Christian excludes God from the plans

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13‭-‬15 NIV)

…

 

God’s final Word – Chapter 14, verses 6 through 11

God’s final Word – Triumphant Saints

The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey and the responses of the class.

1. God’s messengers

   Angels serve throughout Scripture as God’s messengers, in fact, the Greek word — ἄγγελος (angelos) — means “messenger.” They brought messages to Daniel, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Phillip and Paul. Angels also minister to and care for believers.

   One class member recalled that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was visited by Gabriel and made mute when he did not believe that he would become a father in his old age. Another class member recalled how Phillip was directed to go to a desert road to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. Finally, a class member remembered the account where Paul was told by an angel that his shipmates would survive the storm.

   They will play a major role the end time events. They will gather the unbelievers for judgment, believers for glory and accompany the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns to earth In triumph in Revelation, they are involved in the outpouring of God’s wrath and proclaiming the consummation of the age.

   In these verses, the messages from these three angels are designed to produce a remedial fear leading to saving faith. God will graciously offer sinners another opportunity to repent before unleashing the arriving bowl judgments.

   Why do you thins the Lord uses angels in these ways? Are you grateful?

   One class member said that he showed gratefulness by following the commands of Christ: reading the Word, praying to the Father, sharing the gospel, showing praise, and showing love. While these acts would not earn salvation, they helped build a relationship with God.

2. The first angel: preaching the gospel — Revelation 14:6-7
   

   Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6‭-‬7 NIV)

   Do you find it strange that an angel is proclaiming the gospel? Explain.

   Yes. Up to this point, the gospel has been the sole purview of believing people.

   This is an amazing mission. Jesus had given the Great Commission to His followers:

   He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15‭-‬16 NIV)

   Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NIV)

   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

   The preaching of the good news has always been the unique privilege and responsibility of Christian believers Yet at this point in history, conditions have become so extreme that the Lord uses this new method. God, in His infinite grace, will send forth this mighty angel proclaiming the gospel to every tribe, nation and language so that no one will be able to say that they had not heard the gospel. There will be none who have an excuse for rejecting the Lord.

   And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 NIV)

   What do you think your role is in reference to the command of Christ to carry the gospel to the world, near and far. Do you consider it a command and/or a privilege? Do you feel you are part of the Great Commission? Explain.

   One class member shared that she felt part of the Great Commission by packing a Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox. She noted the statistic that (out of 12 boxes shared) one child would believe in Christ. Another member mentioned his work with Awanas and the teaching of memory verses to the children. Another member related how they worked at the Tamina Road mission and shared both food and hope with the people there. Yet another spoke of their dealings with a retirement home. She mentioned how a man named Mike pointed out that he liked hugs, too. She went on to talk about how relationships there reflected the glory of Christ.

   This angel appears in midair or midheaven which refers to the point in the sky where the sun reaches its high point at moon making it most visible to those on the earth. The seal and trumpet judgments have occurred and the 144,000, the two witnesses and other converts have shared the gospel but most of the earth’s population has rejected the gospel yet the Lord gives them another chance.

   What is the eternal gospel which is proclaimed? It is the good news of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven, it is the declaration that people are sinners facing eternal judgment in hell but that God has provided atonement for their sins through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. How do people in western civilization today generally respond to this eternal gospel? The angel calls the people to fear and honor Gat by turning to His Son and no longer fear and worship Satan. Also, to give God glory.

   For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21 NIV)

   Refusing to give God glory is the core of man’s prideful rebellion. How do you give God glory?

   One class member simply reiterated the points he made regarding his daily habits of Bible study, prayer, witnessing, and just living Christian love.

   Opportunity is fading fast; the bowl judgments are about to be poured out and Jesus is about to return. The angel cries out to worship our Creator.

   The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:18‭-‬20 NIV)

   Do you believe time is running out for anyone you know or for you to share the gospel?

3. The second angel: pronouncing judgement — Revelation 14:8
   

   A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 14:8 NIV)

   This angel pronounced the bad news of judgment. Sadly, this implies that the first angel’s message was largely rejected

   The repetition of “on” underscores the finality, certainty and comprehensive nature of the judgment.

   Babylon refers to the Antichrist’s worldwide political, economic and religious empire. Babylon from its inception symbolized evil and rebellion against God. It was founded by Nimrod, a proud and powerful God-rejecting ruler and Babel was the site of the first organized system of idolatrous false religion. The tower of Babel was an edifice designed to facilitate idolatrous worship. The seeds of idolatry and false religion spread around the world from Babylon.

   The world will be intoxicated, seduced and deceived by the Babylonian false religion headed by the Antichrist. The picture is sexual immorality and spiritual prostitution. Because of this, they will end up drinking the “wine of the wrath of God.” 14:10 Do you see similarities of today with this Tribulation period?

4. The third angel: promising damnation — Revelation 14:9-11
   

   A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9‭-‬11 NIV)

   The full fury of God’s wrath, so long restrained, will be unleashed. Unrepentant sinners will be banished from God’s presence relationally and they will be barred forever from a loving relationship with Him. The strongest language of damnation in all of Scripture is described in Revelation 14:10. This is an eternal punishment for the divinely-created soul and spirit which will last forever.

   God’s gracious warnings will go unheeded by most of the sinful world. Here is a clear illustration of this sad truth expressed in the following verse:

   This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 NIV)