Three Angels and the Gospel (Q & A)

By: John Spellman

Q. How is the message of Revelation 14:6-12 the gospel? Or what is Revelation 14: 6-12’s relationship to the gospel? 

A. The message of Revelation 14:6-12 is the same gospel preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the entire New Testament. It is not a different gospel. Rather, it is the same gospel in different wording. It agrees with and cooperates with all other scriptures regarding the gospel. 

To explain this concept, let’s first look at what Paul states about the singularity of the gospel. He believed that there is only one true gospel, and anything outside of this gospel was a false gospel. He stated: 

Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

With this in mind, many who misunderstand the 3 Angels’ Message think of it as “another gospel” and point to this text as a means to say that if the 3 Angels Message is a “gospel” it must be a false gospel; otherwise, it must be something different from the true gospel preached in the New Testament. However, this claim is inaccurate and demonstrates lack of understanding about what the true gospel is and its synonymous nature with the message of Revelation 14. 

The author of Revelation was John, who wrote the gospel of John. Often, this gospel referred to John as the “disciple whom Jesus loved”. John seems to have had special relationship with Jesus that was sometimes envied by the other disciples. This is why they pressed him to ask Jesus who would betray him, figuring that if anyone was close enough to Jesus get Him to reveal this mystery it would be John. (John 13) The fact that during Jesus’ crucifixion John was entrusted to the caretaking of Mary (the mother of Jesus) speaks volumes about the level of confidence, trust, etc. that Jesus placed in him. (John 19) After the resurrection, Peter seemed to believe, although misguided, that John was somehow favored in such a way that He would never die, but remain until the second coming. (John 21) 

These examples show that John had a close relationship with Jesus, understood His teachings, and as the writer of Revelation (which some scholars suggest was written before the book of John), he was unlikely to misunderstand the true gospel. In fact, the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are considered the “four gospels” and often form the basis for our understanding of what the gospel is. Yet, the same John who wrote the gospel of John is also the author of Revelation: He who penned John 3:16 also penned Revelation 14: 6-12. If Revelation contained a contradictory gospel, then John would be contradicting himself. However, upon closer examination, we find that both books are actually in harmony—saying the same thing in different wording to emphasize different aspects of the same thing. 

With that said, we can be sure that what John says in Revelation will be in harmony with the gospel of John. We can now examine what exactly Revelation is saying and compare that with recordings of how the gospel was preached in other texts.

Rev 14:6-7 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, 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. 

John states, specifically, that he sees an angel flying in the midst of heaven and this angel was preaching (or proclaiming aloud) what he recognized to be the “everlasting gospel”. He states that this preaching went to every location on earth: every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In verse 7, John states that when this angel was preaching what he understood to be the everlasting gospel, verse 7 is exactly what he was saying that John understood to be the everlasting gospel. 

In other words, verse 6 records that the angel preaches the “everlasting gospel” while verse 7 records exactly what the angel said that John called the “everlasting gospel” in verse 6. Therefore, John understood that to preach “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” – was synonymous with the gospel that he came to understand through his time with Jesus. 

Before moving on to the second and third angel’s message, we need to compare the first angel’s message with what was preached by others when they preached “the gospel”. Some basic facts about the gospel might prove helpful here. The word gospel appears about 104 times and in 98 verses of the King James Version of the Bible. We also find that “the gospel” has different names, though each name is referring to the same gospel. For example, “the gospel of the kingdom”, “the gospel”, “the gospel of Jesus Christ”, “Christ’s gospel”, “the gospel of the glory of Christ”, “the gospel of God”, “the gospel of your salvation”, “gospel of peace”, “everlasting gospel”, etc. Unless throughout the New Testament we have a bunch of different gospels, in which case every last one of the New Testament writers would be accursed according to Paul (Gal 1:6-9), we can safely acknowledge that the gospel goes by different names and often emphasizes different aspects of the same thing.

First, Matthew 24:14 states that the gospel must be preached to “all the world” and to “all nations” before the end would come. This shows us a similarity between “the gospel” recorded in Matthew and the 3 Angels’ Message in Revelation 14. Both were required to be preached everywhere before the end of the world. Mark’s account concurs (Mark 16:15). 

Second, we should examine what was actually said as one was preaching the gospel. This will show us other similarities. Mark believed his writings to contain correct information on the gospel. He states in the first verse: 

Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 

As Mark begins his discourse on the gospel he tells the story of John the Baptist (different from the apostle John). Who preached a message of repentance, that people should be baptized to have their sins remitted. He also preached that one would come who was greater than he was. This individual would baptize with the Holy Ghost. He was speaking of Jesus. Notice what the scriptures record John saying in various accounts: 

Mat 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Mar 1:4-8 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

After Jesus was baptized and John’s ministry began to decrease, scripture records specifically what Jesus began to preach. 

Mar 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

Mark seems to suggest that as the gospel was preached, Jesus specifically told people, and was recorded to have said, “the time is fulfilled”, “the kingdom of God is at hand”, “repent”, and “believe the gospel”. This message was synonymous with what John the Baptist was preaching. The word “gospel” comes from the Greek “evangelion” which means “good news”. According to Mark, the good news Jesus preached was that the time was fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, men had opportunity to repent and believe the good news of Jesus whom John declared would baptize with the Holy Ghost. 

For Jewish believers, under the cruel and oppressive rule of the Roman Empire, the idea that the “kingdom of God is at hand” was great news for them. They longed for the time to be fulfilled and for God to set up His everlasting kingdom.

As Jesus taught His disciples how to preach the gospel, Mark records that this is how they went about doing it: 

Mar 6:12-13 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 

Notice that John, Jesus, and Jesus’ disciples preached a message of repentance that was part of the good news package. In fact, the reality that we can repent and be forgiven is great news! This is because all human beings are sinners. If the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand, without repentance, this would be terrible news. Although Jews of Jesus’ time understood that the everlasting kingdom God would set up would end Roman oppression, they also understood that God had a judgment.

Ecc 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

Dan 7:21-22 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 

With this in mind, the good news of the time being fulfilled was only good news for people who would have an innocent verdict in God’s judgment. Otherwise, the time being fulfilled and the kingdom being established was pretty bad news. However, because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for humanity, the possibility of repentance made it so that everyone could be in good standing with God having an innocent verdict in the judgment. Thus, preaching that people should repent was a good thing because the opportunity to do so, before it was too late, had been provided. If one was a sinner, which we all are, this was really good news! 

The idea that “the time is fulfilled” brings us back to the prophecies of Daniel and the promise that God would establish an everlasting kingdom. The heavenly judgment was clearly implied by the words spoken in Mark 1:15. Think about it. Why did Jesus preach that people should repent just because the kingdom of heaven is at hand? It’s because the establishment of the kingdom of heaven is accompanied by the judgment. If one hadn’t repented and was waiting for the kingdom to be established, they would be waiting to their own detriment being found guilty in the judgment. This is why repentance was so important to the preaching of the gospel. It allowed for any willing person to be reconciled to God and take part in the everlasting kingdom rather than be lost. Peter’s understanding of this is shown in His writings:

1Pe 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Peter seems to have understood that if one didn’t heed the message of the gospel, the judgment would declare them guilty. Thus, the themes of repentance, judgment, and the establishment of the heavenly kingdom are interconnected with the gospel. In fact, the gospel can’t be preached without making mention of these themes.

If we summarized the good news, we would state that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins. However, what did we need saving from? The judgment! How do we take part in the salvation experience provided by Jesus through His death on the cross? Through repentance and the baptism of sin remission. Once one has joined the body of Christ and received salvation, what do they look forward to? The everlasting kingdom that puts an end to death, sickness, sorrow, and all the negative consequences of sin that we now experience. Hence, one should now easily be able to see how the themes of judgment, repentance, and the everlasting kingdom are interconnected and intricate parts of the preaching of the gospel.

Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

If we analyze this passage, you’ll see how the three themes are implied. Why would anyone in the world perish if Jesus had not come to earth? Because there’s a judgment! Interestingly enough, verse 18 points out that the world is already condemned in that judgment. How does Jesus save the world? When people repent, Jesus provides the atonement necessary for forgiveness of sins. Now that we’re saved, what prevents us from being lost again? God establishes an everlasting kingdom founded upon righteousness. Are you starting to get the idea? 

Even looking at the different names for the gospel (mentioned earlier) reveals these aforesaid aspects of what it means. For example, it’s called the “gospel of peace” because we have peace with God and we’re no longer condemned in the judgment. It’s called the gospel of grace because we receive the unmerited favor of God, we’re not condemned in the judgment, because of what Jesus has done for us. It’s called the “gospel of your salvation” because through repentance you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are not condemned in the judgment, and you will be a part of the everlasting kingdom. Each title simply emphasizes an aspect of the gospel. 

Now that we understand the gospel (from the point of view of the first four books), and what exactly was preached as it was spread, we can compare that message with the three angels’ message in Revelation 14.

Mar 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

Rev 14:6-7 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, 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. 

In comparing these verses, John bears witness that the first angel preached virtually the same thing that Jesus preached. Both texts indicate that the gospel is being preached. In Revelation 14:7, the angel stated that one should “Fear God and give glory to him”. This implied repentance. In fact, we can examine other texts which indicate that giving God glory implies repentance. 

Jos 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 

1Sa 6:4-5 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

In each of the cited cases above, to “give God glory” implied repentance. The message of Jesus and the first angel were both messages of repentance that were to go to a universal humanity: every nation, kindred, language, and people. 

The second part of the first angel’s message gives a reason for the call to repentance: “…for [because] the hour of his judgment is come”. Notice here that time is emphasized: the “hour” of God’s judgment “is come”. Jesus stated that the “time is fulfilled”. Both messages state that time is up. In other words, humanity has reached the limits of God’s mercy and compassion.

Furthermore, as Jesus spoke in Mark 1:15 about time being fulfilled, He was likely referring to the time prophecies of Daniel which pointed to His first advent and also to the setting up of the everlasting kingdom and the beginning date for the cleansing of the sanctuary (judgment). John, in Revelation, when speaking of the judgment is also referring to the “cleansing of the sanctuary” (judgment) described by Daniel. It should be noted that, in the Old Testament, only the book of Daniel contains “time prophecies” about the Messiah’s first advent and the judgment. Other books have prophecies, but not “time prophecies” regarding these events. Therefore, if Jesus stated that the “time is fulfilled” and he’s referring to a specific set apart time, he’s making reference to the time prophecies of Daniel where God indicated exactly when the things all the prophets revealed, concerning the Messiah’s advent, would take place. 

It should also be noted that, according to Daniel, the everlasting kingdom being set up goes hand in hand with the judgment:

Dan 7:21-22 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Thus, when John mentions that the “hour of his judgment is come” he is also implying the setting up and possessing of the kingdom. This again links us to Jesus’ statement “the kingdom of God is at hand”. We see clearly that John, who spent a great deal of time with Jesus during His 3 ½ year ministry, is not saying anything out of sync with what Jesus said Himself. In Revelation, John adds that we should worship the Creator. His message of repentance points us back to the God of Creation who created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (Gen 1:1- 2:4). John seems careful to be specific about: which God one should worship (implying who owns the kingdom), whom glory belongs to (repentance), and who will be active in judgment. 

It should be clear at this point that when comparing what Jesus actually said when He preached the “gospel” with what John stated the first angel of Revelation preached: we’re looking at the same exact thing, just in different wording! There is not another gospel, the same gospel is recorded in Revelation and everywhere else in the New Testament. John just seems to add details or emphasize particular aspects of the gospel based on what the Holy Spirit revealed to him in this prophetic vision. 

This brings us to Revelation 14:8-12-- how the other two angels tie in with the preaching of the gospel. We read that the second angel follows the first angel that was preaching the “everlasting gospel”. The first angel went to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; therefore, the second angel also had to go to the same places. In other words, both angels went to all the world. Since the first angel had the “everlasting gospel” it’s expected (based on Matt 24:14 and Mark 16:15) that it would be a global message. However, we learn that the first angel with the everlasting gospel message is accompanied by another angel that appears to be a traveling partner, going the same places that he went. 

Additionally, the third angel follows the second who was following the first. This means that the three angels are traveling partners and all three go to the same places. Thus, every place the everlasting gospel goes, the other two messages must accompany it and proclaim their messages. In other words, one can’t preach the gospel and leave out the messages of the other two angels-- especially once the time has come for them to begin to follow and accompany the first angel as the gospel is preached. 

This being the case, the 3 Angels’ Message is the gospel package. When one preaches the gospel, this is what they must preach. The Bible does not contradict itself and the apostles are in harmony with the content of what they preach. Though some may emphasize different aspects of the same thing, we can be assured that they all preach the same message. The message of John the Baptist, Jesus, the apostles, and the 3 angels is synonymous. There are no extra contradictory gospels. 

When we look at the content of the second and third angels’ messages, we see a call to come out of Spiritual Babylon (giving us a more specific call to repentance) and a warning not to receive the Mark of the Beast (thereby joining Satan’s kingdom and not being prepared and sealed for God’s Kingdom). In essence, the second and third angels have messages containing Present Truth that directly influences the reception of the everlasting gospel. To ignore the second and third angel is to void the first angel’s message by doing the exact opposite of what he called humanity to do. The last two angels simply specify the final test of whether one has received and heeded the first angel. Those who are in spiritual Babylon and have the Mark of the Beast are unrepentant, found guilty in the judgment, and are cast out from God’s everlasting kingdom. (Rev 13 – 14) 

The prophecies of the book of Daniel climax with the little horn power reigning for a time and then being defeated when the everlasting kingdom is established. Revelation carries this theme replacing the symbolism of the little horn with the symbolism of a conglomerate beast that is an amalgamation of the beasts described in Daniel 7. If when Jesus said, “the time is fulfilled” he was referring to the prophecies of Daniel—the gospel message implies that part of the good news is that this end-time struggle will be coming to a close. Revelation 14 gives explicit detail on how the struggle will climax repeating what Daniel predicted and confirming the matter with two witnesses. (Deut 19:15) 

As Jesus preached the gospel, He also alluded to this struggle stating that false christs, false teachers, and false prophets would arise. He stated that a great tribulation would occur before His return and that deceptions would be so great, that if possible, they would deceive the very elect. Thus, even the second and third angels message is not anything different from what Jesus Himself taught. John seems to have been more specific as the Holy Spirit reveals the matter to him. 

One should clearly be able to see the harmony of the 3 Angels Message and the gospel. We should see them as one and the same – synonymous. The name of the book Apocolypse (Revelation) comes from a Greek word (Apocolypsis) meaning “Revealing”. The book of Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1). It cannot contain a contrary gospel to what Jesus preached when it was designed to reveal Jesus through its prophecies. John received these visions through the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus Himself to reveal heavenly things. Thus, we can trust that the book of Revelation preserves the content of the gospel, though focusing in from the perspective of Present Truth for the end of time. 

Ministers, often offended by the gospel truth, attempt to divorce the 3 Angels Message from its gospel context. However, this is not legitimate since the gospel of Matthew, Mark, and all of the New Testament are in harmony with Revelation 14: 6-12. The perspective of the gospel, as recorded in Revelation, is sometimes an unpopular perspective because it condemns and calls out particular sin. For this reason, some attempt the divorce approach and state that it’s a separate gospel from that of the four gospel accounts and suggest that anyone who preaches it is accursed on the basis of Paul’s words in Gal 1:6-9. To attempt such a separation is to deny an aspect of the gospel and to water down / cheapen the gospel truth. God intended that the gospel be preached in the context of the 3 Angels Message. To subtract the content of the 3 Angels Message (in addition to removing the themes of judgment and repentance) from the gospel castrates it—taking away a portion of the substance. 

We can summarize the gospel by saying: “Jesus died for humanity to provide salvation through his blood that all who believe in Him may have everlasting life”. However, this is a summary. The gospel message goes even deeper in content. These words imply so much more than the surface value. Thus, upon further study, we see clearly that the “everlasting gospel” of Revelation 14 comes at the same exact gospel from the perspective of its end time context and Present Truth. In short, it’s not another gospel! It’s saying the same exact thing, just in different words!!!

This is in harmony with how the gospel has been preached throughout scripture. The Gospel has been preached since the Garden of Eden, but over time more details and light had been added, illuminating more about the plan of salvation. The gospel is not stagnate, but the light, or understanding of it, seems to be further developed over time. Therefore, the gospel was understood better during new eras of “church” history: Since the Garden of Eden, Abraham had a better understanding of the gospel; the Israelites had the sanctuary system and the Israelite / Jewish economy which increased their understanding of the gospel; Jesus proclaimed the gospel, and after the resurrection, more light was given concerning the gospel through the spirit of prophecy as expressed in the book of revelation. Thus the gospel is always the same, but our understanding of it increases over time and its relevance / emphasis (present truth) becomes manifested in different ways to different generations of people.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

This text is the gospel. Theologians call it the “prot-evangelion”. It predicts God’s plan to redeem fallen humanity and to put an end to the sin problem (crushing the head of the serpent). Through the Jewish economy and the sanctuary system, the Israelite sacrifices and rituals were designed to teach believers about the process by which God saves them. They were intended to be a kingdom of priests that would be God’s witnesses to the world. 

When Jesus arrived, the gospel was preached in a more full revelation as it had never been revealed before. The Old Covenant rituals served as a school master which would be actualized in Jesus’ ministry. Thus, we see the gospel being revealed in stages throughout history as we read the Bible. There is only one Gospel, that never changes, yet the details of the Gospel are revealed in greater magnitude over time. Thus, the understanding of it increases as God gives more light. 

What does this have to do with our understanding of the gospel recorded in the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) in comparison to Revelation? Simply put, Revelation reveals aspects of the gospel that in the end of time would become more and more relevant and enriching (Present Truth). The church, throughout the ages, understood certain aspects of the gospel that over time would be expounded upon. Much understanding of the gospel was lost in the Dark Ages, but was illuminated as God moved on the reformers of history. In the last days, when Revelation’s message would become especially relevant, the 3 Angels Message has become important to the gospel context as Present Truth. One should not consider this light that has been given to be a different gospel; rather, it is the same “everlasting” gospel (in the same Bible) given with greater light and more complete revelation. The understanding of Revelation’s perspective on the gospel (which emphasizes the gospel’s prophetic significance) was designed to be made clearer and fuller as the end draws closer. Its emphasis is the last day enrichment of the same gospel. Thus, when this message is preached, it’s not that it’s an entirely different message, it’s just that it’s the same message enriched with different emphasis for the last generation and still incorporates the light given previously.