The three angels’ messages found in Revelation 14:6-12 have been at the heart of the Seventh-day Adventist message and mission ever since the beginning of this movement. These messages are prophetic, illustrating the reliability of God's Word, and proclaiming the most serious warnings found in Scripture.
The first angel's message brings the everlasting gospel to the entire world—a call to worship God as Creator and announcing the hour of His judgment. The second builds upon the first, proclaiming that Babylon—a false system of worship that rejects the proclamation of the first angel, accepts the delusions of Satan and unites with the world—is fallen. The third angel's message brings to light the mark of the beast, in contrast to God's true Sabbath as the seal of God, urging people not to receive the mark.
Seventh-day Adventists are familiar with the content of these messages, but how often do we proclaim them, other than in public evangelistic meetings? Ellen White shares this important insight: "The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth's history. 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. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God, and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order" (Life Sketches, p. 429).
We all are called to proclaim these life-saving messages, but how to do so in an angelic way? Here are three practical aspects to keep in mind:
1. Believe the messages personally and allow them to transform our hearts. We cannot authentically present a message as true if we ourselves are in doubt. Now is the time to carefully study the three angels' messages and let their meaning sink in deeply.
2. Allow God's Spirit to fill us with a deep, Christlike love for everyone.
3. Use Biblically based methods to share the complete message.
God is changing the hearts of those who hear these marvelous messages. The Holy Spirit moves in the minds of individuals who need to make a decision for Christ, and what a privilege is ours to be used as God's instruments to reach others for Him! Only by relying completely on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit will we be able to accomplish anything. God is preparing us for something very unusual that will soon happen—the outpouring of the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. Let the second coming of Christ and His three angels' messages be proclaimed by every Seventh-day Adventist around the world, because Jesus is coming soon!