THE THREE ANGELS OF REVELATION XIV

At the left of the Sanctuary we have the illustration of three angels flying through heaven, followed by a royal personage coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. These angels are the three angels brought to view in Revelation 12:6-12. When we talk of the first, second and third angel’s messages, we are frequently accused of being fanciful in our ways of Scripture. But we wish to ask plainly every person who respects the sacred text, if there are not three angels spoken of in Revelation 14, in consecutive order, the last called the third, by which the other two are recognized as the first and second? 2. Have they not each a special message to proclaim? 3. Is it not therefore eminently proper and scriptural to speak of the first angel’s message, the second angel’s message, and the third an gel’s message? All must admit that it is. Let no fault, then, be found with our phraseology of these messages, while we proceed to offer a few reasons for our application of them.KPC 34.1

Like most other agents introduced in the book of Revelation, we believe these angels to be symbols. That they are not merely literal angels is certain, from the fact that they are commissioned to preach the everlasting gospel, and associate truths. But in the proclamation of the gospel, literal angels are not employed. This work is committed unto men [Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 4:1-7; 5:18]; and we therefore conclude that they symbolize classes of religious teachers, with special and important truths.KPC 34.2

We now inquire after the time of these proclamations, to which, however, but a brief space can be allotted in this work. Of the scene immediately following the third angel’s message there can be no doubt. The one like unto the Son of man, verse 14, seated on a white cloud, is evidently a symbol of the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, These messages therefore go forth previous to the coming of Christ, and extend to that event. We are therefore warranted to look for the third message, at least, immediately preceding the coming of the Son of man. The other message go forth before this; but how long before? Not long ages, as some contend, from the fact that the messages are connected together in unbroken succession; and from the fact, also, that the first of these proclamations is, “The hour of his judgment is come,” bringing to view a scene closely connected with the second advent. Such a proclamation as this was not made by the apostles. Paul reasoned of a judgement to come, Acts 24:25, not of one immediately impending. They declared moreover that the day of the Lord was not in their day, at hand. 2 Thessalonians 2:2. Martin Luther and the other reformers did not give this message; for he placed the judgment in the future from his day about 300 years. In short, no movement can be found in the past history of the church to answer to this message except the great movement on the second advent question, which has taken place within the memory of this generation. for a full discussion of these subjects the reader is referred to a pamphlet entitled, “The Three Messages of Revelation 14,” published at this Office. The illustrations will present to the mind of the reader, at a glance, the order of these events, and the application of them, which will be found abundantly sustained in the work above mentioned:KPC 35.1