We often don’t realize the extent to which our doctrines have changed our entire perspective of what the Bible says. In my
Rev 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (NIV)
To our teacher through this text the significance of the judgment was that it called the world to the Sabbath. Thus the SDA church through the judgment hour message was calling people to worship the creator God upon the seventh day. His statement was that in the beginning God’s people kept the Sabbath and at the end they would keep the Sabbath.
Through the SDA tradition of linking these verses with the Investigative/preadvent Judgment our teacher determined that this verse in Revelation had no application until 1844 or sometime shortly after. Of course they were not seventh day Sabbath keepers at the time of 1844 and only gradually did that catch on and even then it was the result of Millerites who were acquainted with Seventh day Baptists who started in the 1600’s.
But when a person has bought into the SDA connections of verses however tenuous they may be in fact, in their mind they are solid connections. The idea that these verses could have had significance for the last 2000 years does not enter the mind of many SDA’s, their novel view of 1844 over rules all other meaning.
Even the idea of creation which is used in Revelation is by many SDA’s connected to the Sabbath rather then the more applicable meaning of God the author of creation. Once again SDA traditions take over. Even though the Sabbath commandment mentions nothing about worship its use of the phrase about heavens and earth and seas is used as the connection to Sabbath. Whereas other uses in the Old Testament indicate much better the idea of worship of the creator though they don’t deal at all with the Sabbath. For examples:
Psalms 96:11-12 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
Neh 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Jonah 1:9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
Amos 9:6 he who builds his lofty palace n in the heavens and sets its foundation n on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land-- the LORD is his name.
Rev. 10:6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!
Clearly the concept here is not the Sabbath but the creator who is worthy of worship.
So now let’s look at the 3 angel’s message as follows beyond Adventist tradition:
Rev 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (NIV)
What is the judgment spoken of in this verse. It has since the great commission been the mission to proclaim the eternal gospel. (The love of God, salvation) Acknowledging that love would cause people to give Glory to God and respect Him and worship Him. So why does it say "because the hour of his judgment has come" as the reason for worship?
The answers given by most SDA's will through force of tradition have something to do with the investigative judgment. The problem is that under neither interpretation used in SDA circles does the investigative judgment cause one to come and worship God.
The 2 interpretations:
1. For example Uriah Smith says in Daniel and the Revelation (old interpretation):
..."In 1844 the days ended. Since that time the final work for man's salvation has been going forward. This work involves an examination of every man's character, for it consists in the remission of the sins of those who shall be found worthy to have them remitted, and determines who among the dead shall be raised. It decides who among the living shall be changed at the coming of the Lord, and who of both dead and living shall be left to have their part in the fearful scenes of the second death. All can see that such a decision as this must be rendered before the Lord appears." (p. 220)
2. The book SDA's believe... says (newer interpretation):
"Why then a pre-Advent investigative judgment? This judgment is not for the benefit of the Godhead. It is primarily for the benefit of the universe, answering the charges of Satan and giving assurance to the unfallen creation that God will allow into His kingdom only those who truly have been converted. So God opens the books of record for impartial inspection. (Dan. 7:9'10) (Seventh-day Adventists Believe... p.325)
A better answer however is that it is the judgment mentioned in John's other book. Notice the activities below that could cause people to come and worship God:
John 16:7-13
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)
To abbreviate: convicted of sin because we did not trust God (believe in Christ)
Convinced of righteousness as Christ shows the truth of what He said, His love, His life, death and resurrection, and return to heaven.
Through judgment the devil stands condemned.
So let's now paraphrase Rev 14:7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the Devil now stands condemned. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (RON)
For those who do not like to blame everything on the devil it could be: He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the selfish rebellion has been proved without grounds... Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (PRON)
The next angel messages amount too:
Rev 14:8-10 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is
Rev. 14:9, 10
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. (NIV) ----Those who reject God and worship false gods or worthless philosophies by their thoughts and actions shall receive the wrath of God. Complete and final loss of life, separation from the source of all life.
This is not last generation information; the Followers (worshipers) of Christ have been persecuted since the apostle’s time. We can never forget the terrible persecution which the early church endured, and the blessing, the assurance of victory which the book Revelation has given to all Christians through all time and all without the need for 1844.
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