This first angel of John’s vision has often
been interpreted by Lutheran commentators as Martin Luther, because of his
clear proclamation of the eternal gospel to…those who dwell on earth.
Certainly God worked through this man, as He works through others, to bring His
message of freedom in Christ to every nation and tribe and language and
people.
“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—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.”
Then
I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth: This other angel preaches the gospel, but
also announces judgment (the hour of His judgment has come). Because the
judgment of God is so evident on the earth in great tribulation, it is no
wonder why the crowd of those saved through the great tribulation can’t be
numbered (Revelation 7:9-14).
Some today like to identify their ministry or
technology with this angel flying in the midst of heaven. One prominent
television ministry named the satellite they use “Angel One” in a hoped-for
fulfillment of this verse. The desire to connect contemporary technology or
events with this angel is nothing new. Adam Clarke, writing from the late 18th
century says, “But the vision seems truly
descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible
Society, whose object it is to print and circulate the Scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments, through the entire habitable world, and in all the
languages spoken on the face of the earth.”
Fear
God and give glory to Him:
This is what the angel will tell the whole world to do. They can do this and
give glory to God and worship Him willingly in this life, or be compelled to
give glory to Him later.
It is certain that one day all will give
glory to God. Philippians 2:9-11 says, Therefore God also has highly exalted
Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those
under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God.
John says this is the everlasting gospel, and
it may sound different that the gospel we hear preached today. It isn’t all that
different, but it is preached to a different, specific time – to those in the
latter part of the great tribulation. “Hence
still something of a Gospel message sounds… It is Gospel, but it is the Gospel
in the form it takes when the hour of judgment has set in. It is one of the
very last calls of grace to an apostate world.” (Seiss)
To
every nation, tribe, tongue, and people: This can be a valid fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 24:14 that
the gospel would be preached to the entire world before His second coming. But
this can never be a valid excuse for neglecting the urgency of missions. God
has not given the responsibility for spreading the Gospel to angels, but unto
His people.
However, this is the only place in the New
Testament where we see angels preaching the Gospel. In God’s sublime wisdom, He
has chosen to give that responsibility to people alone, apart from the rarest
of exceptions.[1]
[1] Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/revelation-14/
[3] Collect for Reformation, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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