The Last Chance

Reflections on Revelation 14:6-13

The three great enemies of God and his saints have been identified, and those who stood against them and won the victory have been pictured.  How can those who are yet living join the victors?  Three angels make announcements which the living need to hear.

The first angel proclaims the eternal gospel, the good news of salvation, which is for every nation, tribe, language, and people.   All unbelievers who dwell on the earth are admonished to fear God and worship him because the hour when he judges the nations has come. This is their last chance.

The second angel announces the fall of Babylon, the great godless city which causes all nations to commit sexual immorality by forsaking God and worshiping those things which are not God. The last chance has passed. (John will tell more about Babylon and her punishment later.) 

Finally, the third angel announces God's judgment of fire and sulfur for all who worship the beast and its image or receive his mark. There are no more chances; punishment is final and eternal. 

The saints, who would keep God's commands and maintain their faith in Jesus must endure.  They cannot lapse into unbelief.  Only those who are faithful until death and die in the Lord will be blessed.  They are assured that they will rest from their labors because their faithful deeds will follow them.