The Three Angels MEMORY VERSE: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
Suggested Reading:
Early Writings, pp. 232–261.
“I was shown three steps—the first, second, and third angels’ messages. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance.’ ”—Early Writings, p. 258.
1. ANGELS IN REVELATION Sun, Jun 7
a. Compare and contrast the different types of messengers represented by angels. Revelation 1:20; 10:1, 5; 11:1; 22:8.b. How does God send a message to everyone on earth? Romans 10:13–15.“As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. . . . And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ.’ Ephesians 3:8.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 134.“We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world . . . for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God’s love.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 297.c. Who is symbolized by the angels of Revelation 14:6–12 and their mission? Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8.“The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning. . . . No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 387.
2. THE FIRST ANGEL Mon, Jun 8
a. To whom does the first angel take his message? Revelation 14:6.“A great religious awakening under the proclamation of Christ’s soon coming is foretold in the prophecy of the first angel’s message of Revelation 14. . . . The angel’s flight ‘in the midst of heaven,’ the ‘loud voice’ with which the warning is uttered, and its promulgation to all ‘that dwell on the earth’—‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people’—give evidence of the rapidity and worldwide extent of the movement.”—The Great Controversy, p. 355.b. How did the first angel call attention to God as the Creator? Revelation 14:7; Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 3:9.c. Reflect on how the Advent Movement appropriated the message of the first angel and the judgment to their preaching of the soon coming of Christ. Daniel 7:26, 27; 8:14; Acts 17:30, 31.“To William Miller and his colaborers it was given to preach the warning in America. This country became the center of the great advent movement. It was here that the prophecy of the first angel’s message had its most direct fulfillment. The writings of Miller and his associates were carried to distant lands. Wherever missionaries had penetrated in all the world, were sent the glad tidings of Christ’s speedy return. Far and wide spread the message of the everlasting gospel: ‘Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.’“The testimony of the prophecies which seemed to point to the coming of Christ in the spring of 1844 took deep hold of the minds of the people. As the message went from state to state, there was everywhere awakened widespread interest. Many were convinced that the arguments from the prophetic periods were correct, and, sacrificing their pride of opinion, they joyfully received the truth. Some ministers laid aside their sectarian views and feelings, left their salaries and their churches, and united in proclaiming the coming of Jesus. There were comparatively few ministers, however, who would accept this message; therefore it was largely committed to humble laymen. . . . The condition of an ungodly church and a world lying in wickedness, burdened the souls of the true watchmen, and they willingly endured toil, privation, and suffering, that they might call men to repentance unto salvation. Though opposed by Satan, the work went steadily forward, and the advent truth was accepted by many thousands.”—Ibid., p. 368.
3. THE SECOND ANGEL Tue, Jun 9
a. What does the second angel have to say about the spiritual condition of the professed church of Christ? Revelation 14:8.“What is that wine?—Her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan first told to Eve in Eden—the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred errors she has spread far and wide, ‘teaching for doctrines the commandments of men’ (Matthew 15:9).”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 118.“Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the pre-existence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God’s holy and sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various churches, and thus the Scriptures are fulfilled that say, ‘For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ ”—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 61, 62.b. Describe how the believers in the Advent Movement understood their first disappointment, the discovery of the true end of the 2300 days, and their call to separate from those who rejected the message. Habakkuk 2:3; Matthew 25:6.“In the summer of 1844, midway between the time when it had been first thought that the 2300 days would end, and the autumn of the same year, to which it was afterward found that they extended, the message was proclaimed in the very words of Scripture: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!’“That which led to this movement was the discovery that the decree of Artaxerxes for the restoration of Jerusalem, which formed the starting point for the period of the 2300 days, went into effect in the autumn of the year 457 ʙ.ᴄ., and not at the beginning of the year, as had been formerly believed. Reckoning from the autumn of 457, the 2300 years terminate in the autumn of 1844.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 398, 399.“As the churches refused to receive the first angel’s message, they rejected the light from heaven and fell from the favor of God. They trusted to their own strength, and by opposing the first message placed themselves where they could not see the light of the second angel’s message. But the beloved of God, who were oppressed, accepted the message, ‘Babylon is fallen,’ and left the churches.”—Early Writings, p. 237.
4. THE THIRD ANGEL Wed, Jun 10
a. What startling warning comes from the third angel? Revelation 14:9–11.“The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them. . . . It is represented in the prophecy as being proclaimed with a loud voice, by an angel flying in the midst of heaven; and it will command the attention of the world.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 449, 450.b. In the time of the message of the third angel, how are the saints distinguished? Revelation 14:12.“The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment, since this is the sign of God’s creative power and the witness to His claim upon man’s reverence and homage. . . . In the issue of the conflict all Christendom will be divided into two great classes, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel all, ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,’ to receive the mark of the beast, yet the people of God will not receive it. Revelation 13:16.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp. 16, 17.c. How is the rise of the third angel’s message described? Revelation 7:2, 3.“At a meeting held in Dorchester, Mass., November, 1848, I had been given a view of the proclamation of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish the light that was shining upon our pathway.“After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: ‘I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.’ ”—Life Sketches, p. 125.
5. THE APEX OF THE MESSAGE Thu, Jun 11
a. How will the blessing proclaimed be fulfilled regarding those who died in faith during the proclamation of the third angel’s message? Revelation 14:13; Daniel 12:2.“It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything seemed turned out of its natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.”—Early Writings, p. 285.b. What is to take place at the conclusion of the messages of the three angels? Revelation 14:14–16; Mark 4:26–29.“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, ‘It is done.’ ”—Ibid., p. 279.
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Jun 12
1. Why has God made the preaching of the gospel dependent on human agents?2. How did the first angel’s message reach around the world?3. Describe the reason for the giving of the message of the second angel.4. What distinction does the third angel’s message highlight?5. What event will take place after the three angels’ messages are concluded?