While it is good to study the word of God, with all of the revelations He has seen fit to give to His people, we should never forget that the great commission is to be front and center of all our efforts and because of this, the preparation of the gospel of peace must be done in a manner to make it as easily digestible as possible without compromising it, so that people would be able to easily assimilate, and understand clearly that which is presented.
But never should our efforts at evangelizing cause unwarranted doubt, or perplexity in the minds of those who listen. A clear, distinct “Thus saith The Lord” without long, wearisome explanations, must be the goal of every presentation or study. It is true that we can’t prevent doubt and skepticism in every instance, however, the manner of teaching should not contribute in any way to undue perplexity.
This is because the average Christian does not study the Bible enough, as he/she ought to, let alone the secular mind that is filled with movies, electronics, sports, and gadgets. Thus, in a bustling world that is teeming with every conceivable distraction, it is of the utmost importance that our sayings be yea, yea, or nay, nay. In other words, the gospel for our time should be prepared in precis form, whenever such preparation is warranted.
Otherwise, we will find that our studies will become philosophically charged, without them reaching the heart, or calling folks to repentance. The perplexing themes which will call for deep thought, and careful prayerful research, would better be left for times at which persons are not in a rush, or where there are no time constraints like ten or fifteen minutes. The word of God must never be rushed down, just like the fast-food systems of earth.
Time must be given to reflect, to reinspect, to read and re-read, to investigate thoroughly, and most of all for practical application, for wherever studies are done merely for philosophical reasons, the Spirit of God is usually absent. The golden nuggets of truth do not lie on the surface but must be carefully dug out as hidden treasure. Then the faithful servant is to condense it in precis form, for whenever those opportunities for witnessing arise.
But to try to explain Daniel chapter 7 while at the bus stop, or at a roti shop with music blaring in the background, will do a disservice to the truths that are contained therein. Therefore, the gospel must be prepared for expedited delivery, both in precis form, and for those instances where we may have much more time to spare. The wise man put it this way. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Especially in our day should the pertinent aspects of the gospel be prepared in precis form, for we are given three specific messages, or three aspects of the gospel to focus on, in our efforts to prepare the world for Christ’s second coming. Here in America, where Christmas is celebrated by most people, the fact that Christ came to this earth to die for our sins is generally known and accepted.
Thus, in most cases, it may not be necessary to start our emphasis on that point, depending on the type of person/ persons we’re interacting with. However, it is important to establish this through questioning so that a sure foundation may be laid for the other important truths to follow. Christ, as The Savior is not generally the problem, for this has been pretty well-established by all protestant denominations.
But as a general rule of thumb, most people are big on Jesus but small on obedience, and therefore, the importance of the three angel’s messages must be explained thoroughly to those who do not know. It is Christ as Lord that needs to be focused on, for it is the area of the gospel which is most despised. Love has been the focus of televangelists and the popular preachers of the day.
Praise is big in most Christian circles, as is evidenced by the vast amounts spent on music, concerts, and every other conceivable attraction associated with praise. Then again, Christians, and evangelicals are all but obsessed with having The Holy Spirit, to the point where speaking in tongues has become a sort of badge of honor, a certain kind of certification, of the authenticity of one’s Christianity.
But, according to Christ, “One thing thou lackest”; the obedience part of the gospel has been left on the back-burner for way too long, since it has been squelched, suppressed, and signally dismissed by the false doctrine which states that God’s law has been abolished, and as such, has no binding force upon modern Christians.
Therefore, the focus of the three angel’s messages given in Revelation chapter 14, calls the attention of earth’s inhabitants to those essential truths of the gospel that have been neglected. And that is the reason why the remnant, who will be delivering the three angel’s messages primarily should be laser-focused on the obedience aspect of the gospel, to bring back equilibrium to the equation.
Where there is no law, there can be no sin, because sin is the transgression of the law. And then, if there is no sin, man’s need of A Savior becomes obsolete, and in consequence, the preaching of the gospel is a dead letter to obdurate hearts, which feel no guilt. Thus, the three angel’s messages cut through all the morass of false doctrines and misinterpretations for they go to the crux of the matter, and delineate our obligations, and missing links in precis form.
When one goes to his/her doctor for a specific issue the physician will most often just ask a few basic questions, so as to ascertain that the fundamentals are in place. But once that has been established, the specific health issue would become the focus of any further investigation.
Just so it is with the gospel in our generation. After a preliminary determination of the fundamentals is made, there is no need to waste time on topics and issues which gender strife more than anything else. The bulls eye of obedience to all of God’s laws is to be presented in a simple format, so that those who already have faith in Christ, can be aware of their missing link.
In other words, the gospel’s bottom line is to be condensed and presented in such a clear, concise manner so as to leave no doubt about what is required by God. It is thus that Revelation 14 presents the gospel for our generation, focusing on those points such as true worship, God’s Creatorship, and the need for obedience, on the part of those who claim Christ as Lord. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.
The following therefore are the crucially important points God desires that we focus on, as we come in contact with our fellowmen. As was stated before, once the fundamentals of faith are understood, we are to preach the messages given for our generation featuring those aspects of the gospel highlighted in the previous verses.
[1] Fear God
To fear God does not mean to be afraid of Him, for perfect love casts out all fear. It means to respect Him, to reverence Him, to love and serve Him by obeying His laws and commandments, including the fourth, which has been woefully neglected by most of Christianity. It also means to stand firm for truth, and the principles of God’s kingdom against all odds at times when it isn’t convenient to do so. Let’s read:
Job 2:3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job had just lost most of everything he owned and held dear, for in a very short space of time he lost his life savings, most his assets and investments, in addition to being bereft of his children, yet he did not give up in despair, no cast away his confidence in God. In this Job “Feared God”. The same was true of Abraham, after being instructed by God to give up his most precious son. He also feared God. Let’s read:
Genesis 22:11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
In our generation, the fear of God is conspicuously absent from the thoughts and actions of too many. God is served and obeyed by persons only when it is convenient to do so, or when it doesn’t interfere with some favorite idol, or our wallets. Whenever the gospel calls for sacrifice or self-denial, whether it be in food, money, time, or marriage, the fear of God is too often tossed out the window.
Just like it is in marriage, the Christian will have ups and downs, good times and bad times, highs and lows, sunny days and rainy days, but those who fear God will manifest a resiliency and steadfastness in keeping his commandments, and that against all odds. Let’s read:
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
[2] Give Glory To Him
To give glory to God means to live a life that is in harmony with His character, by choosing to allow His Holy Spirit to write the principles of His kingdom
in our hearts. It also means giving God the credit for all of our accomplishments, whether in temporal or spiritual lines, because all the good that we may do comes from God. Let’s read:
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost.
Herod was smitten in public because he craved the applause and accolades of men. As he delivered his speech, the multitudes would take up a chant of praise and adoration because of the choice words used. The same problem plagued king Saul, because when David, through God was victorious in war, he was applauded for his bravery and victory, and the women would come out with timbrels and dances singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”.
This praise of another greatly aggravated king Saul, and he complained publicly that the glory and credit he believed was due to him, was going to David. It is because of this insatiable caving for praise, and the applause of individuals, why Saul was led to commit murder, for wherever there is envy and jealousy, we will find every other type of evil. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
In our day there are some who insist on taking the credit for their accomplishments, and who become upset if praise is lavished upon another. God is not brought into the equation, let alone acknowledged for His mercies. Again, there are others who seem to feed off of applause, which becomes intoxicating and causes its subscribers to say and do some very strange things.
It is a very dangerous thing to praise or applaud the sayings and doings of men, for whenever one loses sight of his dependence on God, a terrible fall will occur sooner or later. We should cultivate the habit of giving God all the glory for everything good, for whatsoever we are, or do is because of Him, and comes through Him.
This fact is not understood by many especially when it comes to temporal achievements, and because of this, the credit is very often usurped by the human agent. Hence the reason why The Lord saw it fit to highlight this aspect of the gospel in our generation where pride, and self-boasting are fast becoming dominant themes. Let’s read:
Acts 17: 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
[3] Worship Him.
This aspect of the 1st Angel’s message is the one that should concern pastors, priests, bishops, clergy and laity, for it is the issue which sparked the great controversy in heaven, and which will close it. The issue came to our planet through the fall of Adam, and the devil has done violence to Christianity, in greatly distorting our understanding of worship.
For starters, worship has much more to do with our obedience than our praise, for if God had to choose one above the other, He would choose obedience in a heartbeat. This is what king Saul misunderstood about worship for he went to great lengths to offer sacrifice, but he came up short on obedience.
When instructed by God to do certain things, Saul did “Most” of them, but he left out those portions he did not necessarily agree with. Thus, when he was confronted by the prophet Samuel, he lauded the commands he had obeyed, and the ones he had refused he made excuses for, thus causing Samuel to institute a much-needed correction, on the issue of worship. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 15:10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.
13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
In our day, the issue of true worship is front and center of the 1st angel’s message, because of partial obedience by most of Christendom. It is a fact that most Christians obey some of God’s commands. But there are other commands that are left on the back-burner. Case in point is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which brings to light the Authorship of the decalogue.
There are many sincere Christians who are indeed honest, who do not steal nor bear false witness, and there are millions more who observe the sanctity of God-ordained marriage, and who believe faith and family are cornerstones of a society where Biblical laws and principles will produce positive outcomes.
That is all well and good, but there is one missing link, and as stated before, we will deliver the gospel in precis form. Christ has nowhere in the scriptures, suggested, advised, commanded or encouraged any person to make the first day of the week a sabbath. The Lord’s day has always been the 7th day of the week and it will continue to be throughout eternity.
Therefore, without argument, without going into a long, detailed explanation of beasts and the seals in Revelation; without displaying many cryptic charts, and symbols some may not grasp or understand, here is the gospel for contemporary Christianity in precis form: The 7th day Sabbath needs to be kept, with all of the other laws of the decalogue, “for he that is guilty of one is guilty of all”.
Good intentions are good and charitable actions are much to be encouraged, but if any, living in the last generation who being convicted by the word of God and The Holy Ghost, deliberately tramples upon the fourth commandment, their names will be removed from the Lamb’s book of life, for God will not take a willfully disobedient person to heaven. Let no one be deceived on this matter, for it proceeds directly from the throne of God. Let’s read:
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place.
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.
21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.
Nehemiah 13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do,
and profane the sabbath day?
18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Therefore, with the gospel to our generation given in precis form, with the main sticking points clearly pointed out by the omniscient eye of God, then let all who are honest in heart, all who love and serve The God of heaven, obey His voice and His laws, for love to God is not measured merely by praise but by obedience. That said, we will end our discourse with four important passages of scripture. Let’s read:
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
God bless!