Three Angels Call For Prayer

year of welcome reminder

Introduction

We just finished a series on the book of Daniel that was filled with apocalyptic prophecy. There were symbols and time periods and all kinds of interesting things. In the middle of all that exciting stuff, we found Daniel often confused and always praying.

Many of the things in Daniel’s visions have already taken place. We can trace the symbols through history and see how God’s Word can always be trusted. And today we find ourselves living in what Daniel calls, the time of the end.

Daniel 12:4 ESV

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

We can look back in history and record the rise and fall of all the nations mentioned in Daniel. We can see Rome break into pieces and then become a religious power that speaks blasphemous words against God, standing in the place of God, and persecuting God’s children. Finally after 1,260 years of persecuting God’s people, the Roman church was cut down from power in Western Europe, just as Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 prophesied. That prophecy was fulfilled in 1798, and in the grand scheme of prophecy, 1798 isn’t that long ago—just 224 years. This is the prophecy that begins the time of the end. All kinds of prophecies were fulfilled in a short period of time around 1798. There was a great earthquake, a dark day, and a leonid shower that was so big people thought that all the stars of heaven were falling to the ground. All of these things were predicted in prophecies that pointed to the time of the end.

And to cap it all off, the great time prophecy of Daniel 8—the 2,300 years that would end in the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary—ended in 1844, 2,300 years after the decree to restore and build Jerusalem that was given in 457 BC.

Today, we are living in the time of the end. The prophecies described in Daniel and Revelation have stretched across 2,600 years of earth’s history. The fact that it’s been a 178 years since the last of all the time prophecies ended does not diminish our place in time. 178 years is a short time in the grand arch of prophecy.

In fact, we can be all the more certain that Jesus’ return is soon.

We live in a time where the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to save mankind and eliminate sin are about to be completed. It’s both exciting, and serious.

Three Angels

As the time of the end was starting in the early 1800’s, a prophecy in Revelation 14 began to unfold.

Let’s read Revelation 14:6-7

Revelation 14:6–7 ESV

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Just as the people of God were discovering Daniel 7’s judgment scenes, and Daniel 8’s prediction of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, God called them to tell the world. Not in a local fashion, but to every kindred, tongue, and people. Like a message from God painted on the sky, God wanted everyone to know about it—judgment had come, the time of the end was at hand. And they did. They preached it in camp meetings around North America. The printed it in flyers and magazines that were distributed around the Americas and Europe. When they were available they broadcast it on radios and then televisions. And their messages have changed the course of religion in the world. It used to be that EVERYONE “knew” that Sunday was the Sabbath. But those Seventh-day Adventists made such a loud proclamation from the Bible about worshiping the Creator God and remembering the 7th day Sabbath of creation, that the entirety of Christianity was forced to abandon the Sunday Sabbath theory. Today, most churches have abandoned any idea of worshiping the creator on His Sabbath. They say the law was done away with, rather than contend with the overwhelming biblical evidence that this first messenger proclaimed.

But it wasn’t just that Judgment had come or that we are to worship the Creator God. There was another message God wanted to tell the world about.

Revelation 14:8 ESV

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

Babylon. That’s a loaded name.

Its tied to the tower of Babel where men made up their own system of salvation rather than trust God’s rainbow promise.

It’s tied to the magicians and astrologers and soothsayers of Babylonians during Daniel’s day. Their false prophecies and man-made religions formed the standard of practice that will guide the false religions of our day—a system of forced worship with a death penalty for disobedience.

Babylon is also tied to the false Christian church of the time of the end who rejects the Bible in favor of man-made tradition.

Fallen, fallen is Babylon. This religion, she makes everyone drunk from her spiritual prostitution. Letting doctrines made up by demons lure in the masses.

When you read this message you realize what is at stake. This is life and death. You’re either worshiping the God of creation and recognizing the hope and joy of his judgment which marks the end of sin and the beginning of eternity with God. OR you’re spiritually inebriated because you’ve embraced the man-made doctrines of Babylon. The end of one choice is eternity with Jesus. The end of the other choice is, unfortunately, The same end as sin itself, death.

There’s one more big, timely message that was to be given from God to the whole world.

Revelation 14:9–11 ESV

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

The beast referred to here is the awful religio-political power of Revelation 13 that demands worship or else death. And the image to the beast is the false system of worship that is set up by the second, lamb looking, dragon speaking beast of Revelation 13.

Again, this message draws a line in the sand. There will be a time in the near future when you are either completely on God’s side, or else you are completely on the side of man-made systems of worship.

Following the Lamb

Notice that in verses 10 and 11 those worshipers of the beast and its image are brought to a final justice—an execution that happens in the presence of the Lamb. This doesn’t sound nice. We really want to turn away. But Jesus, the Lamb, and all his holy angels are here in this still-future scene of judgment. The warning is clear. There is only one God worthy of our worship. Every other substitute is not only false, but life-threatening.

We are either following the lamb or following the beast.

Look back a few verses to Revelation 14:1-5

Revelation 14:1–5 ESV

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

The number 144,000 mentioned here is the source of all kinds of theories. I like to think of them as God’s spiritual soldiers, his messengers—the ones who proclaim the three messages of hope and judgment in the time of the end. Let’s take a moment to look at their characteristics:

They stand with Jesus, the lamb

They have Jesus’ name and the Father’s name, symbols of God’s character and will, written in their minds

They sing a song of salvation because they are people who have been redeemed from sin

They worship the Creator God and are not defiled by spiritual adultery with man-made, idolatrous worship

They speak truth about God’s character and plans

And they follow the lamb wherever He goes.

I think that last point is the key to all the others. Jesus said it simply in John 15:4

John 15:4 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

This group of people described in Revelation 14 are abiding with Jesus, wherever He goes, they stay with Him.

blank slide

When Jesus comes again, these people will be ready and waiting for Him. They will know the true from the false because their minds are fixed on Him.

This is a dramatic contrast to those who embrace the false religion of Babylon that makes their minds unable to comprehend the beauty of God. Instead of having God’s character in their hearts and desiring to meet God, they have developed a hatred for the things of God and a desire for man-made substitutes and idols. The contrast is so strong that when Jesus comes the second time they look up and scream for fear, preferring death over meeting Jesus. And ultimately, when the final judgment happens, they will stand in the presence of Jesus and again prefer death than to be with Him. And so, along with sin, and hell, and death, Jesus will annihilate them—ending evil and sin forever.

One group follow the lamb wherever He goes and are eagerly anticipating His return, the others tremble in fear and wish for death when they are finally in Jesus’ presence.

Which group would you rather be in?

Three Angels Call For Prayer

As we find ourselves in the end of time, there’s nothing more important than following the Lamb wherever He goes. That’s the summation of the 3 angels’ messages - worship the Creator God. Don’t worship according to Babylon—the results will not be good. Follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

So let’s park on that idea. What does it mean to follow the Lamb? How can we do that in our everyday life and especially as the timeline of earth draws to a close?

Many believe that a correct doctrine is the essential component to following the lamb. How else will you know where the lamb is if you don’t know prophecies and doctrines? how can you have His character imprinted in your mind and heart if you don’t know the basic facts about Him? And, of course, there is a significant role for correct teachings about God, and listening to His words is essential. There are significant references in the 3 angels messages to important doctrinal truths - so that’s true, correct doctrine is important. And yet, there’s MORE to the relationship that the 144,000 have with God than just knowledge:

Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life.

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

Steps to Christ, pp 91-93

So yes, God speaks to us through revelation - that includes correct doctrine, doesn’t it? And there’s more. We need to speak to Him - we need to have a 2 way conversation. It is not possible to follow the lamb, unless we spend time communicating with Him. We can’t truly know the will of God unless, through prayer, we spend time talking with Him. It is in our time of prayer that we open our hearts to God and allow His spirit to take over our lives and hearts.

Many of you have joined us in prayer the last few days. It’s beautiful and amazing when you come to pray and you set your heart to surrender to God’s will. Something unlocks in your mind and you are able to receive instruction and direction from God in a way that you couldn’t before. Prayer brings us into the presence of God in a way that study alone cannot. Study itself, without prayer and the Holy Spirit to guide you, is ineffectual. I don’t think I am overstepping in suggesting that the only way to follow the lamb, is to regularly spend time talking with Him.

Do you sometimes struggle with prayer—not feeling connected to Jesus when you pray? Or maybe having prayed You leave without any word from God? There are conditions to having a living conversation with God.

There are also conditions for successful conversations with your Spouse or friends. If you come to a conversation with your mind made up, or with criticism in your heart, or with a hidden agenda, the results will be division and discord. The best and most intimate of conversations happens when you let your guard down, when you give up your agendas, and when you open yourself to both share yourself without reservation and listen with careful attention.

The conditions for an open and transforming conversation with God are that:

We must feel our need for him. Our great need is an eloquent plea to the heart of our loving God. He already wants to answer our need even before we begin to pray. If our relationship with God could be compared to a marriage, he’s an attentive spouse who is paying attention to our desires and needs. But if we ignore Him, avoid Him, criticize Him, and live independent of Him, then how can He help? If we come to God thinking we’re all good and have no need of His transforming grace, then we will leave without His transforming grace. We must recognize our need and see Him as our great provider.

We must pray with a contrite heart, not clinging to any known sin. If we don’t lay every secret thing before God, then our sin blocks God from any further interaction. Until our sin is dealt with, He cannot commune with us. Let’s go back to the marriage illustration. Secrets and lies, even if the other spouse doesn’t know about them, will prevent intimacy. Cherished sin creates an emotional an spiritual barrier between us and God. Sin prevents us from even starting the 2-way conversation with God. But He promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. Confessing and receiving His forgiveness frees us up to have intimate and living conversations with God.

We must believe that “He is and that He is a rewarded of them that diligently please him.” Faith is a condition of transforming prayer. The Bible tell us that Abraham “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20–21, ESV) As we come to God with our requests and desires and challenges and hopes and dreams, we too must believe that He is fully able to do what He has promised.

Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little!

Steps to Christ, P 93

Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation

Steps to Christ, p 94

We are in a spiritual battle. The enemy has a power that we cannot overcome in our own strength. We have a great need of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Which is why Satan and his angels want to prevent us from seeking God in prayer. He wants us to be full of the wine of Babylon, obscuring the beauty of God’s character and making us fearful of God or even hatFul towards Him. The solution to all of this is to simply enter the presence of God in prayer, regularly, diligently watching.

Watching

If you haven’t read the chapter in Steps to Christ called “The Power of Prayer” Recently, I encourage you to take some time this afternoon to read it again. it’s short, but powerful. If you don’t have a copy of the book close by there are copies in the lobby that you can take home with you. The chapter is well worth the read.

On the second page of chapter eleven Ellen White makes a connection between prayer and what she calls diligent watching.

The beginning of Revelation 14 describes that group of people as following the lamb. One of the most essential things that a person must do in order to follow someone else is watch them closely.

Do you remember the last time you played follow the leader? You had to keep your eyes fixed on the person at the front so that you can do exactly what they did. She jumped the log, you jump the log—hopefully landing in the same spot she did. If he turned left and then left and then left again, you were careful to do the same turns, at the same places he did. Faithful following required diligent watching.

Jesus combined prayer and watching too:

Matthew 26:41 ESV

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Paul ties watching and prayer together as well in Col 4:2

Colossians 4:2 ESV

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Prayer is essential to watching. And watching is crucial to following. But there’s another aspect of watching. A good watcher always tells others what they see.

God told Ezekiel to give a warning to the people of Israel. He used the illustration of a watcher on a wall looking out for enemies approaching. If the enemies came and the watcher didn’t tell the people, then the deaths of all the people killed by the enemy would be the responsibility of the watcher. You can find that illustration in Ezekiel 36.

When God invites us to abide with Him, and follow Jesus wherever He goes that invitation comes with a responsibility. After the three angels messages are proclaimed Revelation 14 describes a harvest:

Revelation 14:14–15 ESV

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

In this prophecy the whole earth is harvested, those that follow the lamb, and those who follow the religion of men. Jesus described this harvest time when he talked about the resurrection:

John 5:28–29 ESV

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

And here’s the exciting thing, those watchers—the ones who keep their eyes on Jesus and go wherever he goes, abiding with Him—their work is successful. Because they are faithful watchers and tell people about the judgment to come, a great multitude joins them to follow the lamb:

Revelation 7:9–10 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Conclusion

According to these three messages that are supposed to be broadcast to the ends of the earth, we are in the middle of the judgment that will vindicate the righteous and prepare the way for Jesus’ return. Personally, I want to have my eyes fixed on Jesus so when He comes I will be among those who look to the sky and joyfully say, “this is our God, we have waited for Him and He will save us.” (Isaiah 25:9) And my goal is to tell everyone I can so that they can stand there with me.

But I’ve discovered something through my years of ministry. No amount of persuasion will convince someone to follow Jesus. No effort or logical argument or emotional plea will do the trick. The only way I can lead someone to Jesus is if my eyes are fixed on Him myself. And according to the Bible, the way I do that is through listening to His Word and having close conversations with Him in prayer. That’s what it means to watch.

Jesus did this very thing. Even though He was God He put himself in the same position as us. He spent time with the Father in prayer, submitting himself to the will of the Spirit. And when He did that the results were incredible. At the direction of the Spirit He healed, he preached, he taught.

Our only success as God’s messengers is in following Jesus’ example. We might have something amazing to tell people about the character of God, but unless we are surrendered to the Spirit’s leading through prayer, our words will only produce division and animosity. But under the direction of the Spirit, our words will bring life and light.

As we begin this new year, both in Bonners Ferry and Clark Fork churches, we have an opportunity: to surrender ourselves totally to the leading of the Holy Spirit—to pray with sincerity and desire, “your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Will you pray this prayer with me? Will you make time in your day To follow the lamb? to surrender yourself completely to His care and direction?

Jesus wants to be your closest friend. Your most intimate companion. Your best provider. And he’s inviting you to connect with Him through prayer and then you’ll be able to do life and ministry with Him. What a friend we have in Jesus!

blank slide

————

Will you sing that song with me as we close?

Closing Hymn: What A Friend We Have in Jesus (499)