The Everlasting Gospel - 37

The section that I read for this evening contains the announcement of three angels we encounter the first angel there in verse six, where John says, then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation tried tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him who made heaven and earth. See, and springs of water and it's those two verses that are under consideration tonight in my preaching will not go beyond that.

This evening, but just to sketch the content of this this section there's three angels and that's the first angel with the everlasting gospel and then a second angel and in verse eight we will read that again, but that Angel was predicting destruction and then 1/3 angel pronouncing judgment on those who follow the beast beginning in verse nine we see that in verse eight, and another angel followed, saying that's the second message the third message, then 1/3 angel followed them so three consecutive messages proclaimed by angels that John is telling us about in the vision that he received but again tonight were going to concentrate our time with the first angelic message in verse six and seven and all of our consideration is centered around message. The message that this angel was entrusted with and I have six headings that I want to frame this message around them and give them to you and will walk through them together.

Number one the communicator of the message number to the audience of the message number three the content number for the delivery of the message. Number five the commands in the message and then finally the reason for the message and I think you'll see these quite clearly as I point them out to you as we make our way through these two verses. I have often said, and perhaps you have often heard preachers say that God has not entrusted his gospel to angels but to men and I still hold that lot. Interestingly, tonight we find in John's recorded vision, an angel, not a man but an angel entrusted with the everlasting gospel, the communicator of this message that John sees is an angel notice verse six.

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the ever lasting gospel to preach. John sees another angel was signed by God with the message of the eternal gospel about word. Another causes us to ask the question. Where was the last time John saw an angel, and angels have been a part of the vision that John is relating to us in the book of Revelation numerous places, but the last place was in chapter 11 verse 15 and each of the trumpet judgments were introduced by angels, so the last one was the seventh trumpet in chapter 11 verse 15 I will go back there but just to draw your attention to the fact that this is the first encounter with an angel. He says then I saw another angel. This angel is in the midst of heaven, and he is saying what he says with a loud voice. Notice again verse seven saying with a loud voice, and why would this angel be speaking with a loud voice while so that those the message is intended for might hear now. This is another reminder that our hermeneutical approach has been to view the book of Revelation symbolically representative lady, not figuratively. It's hard for any of us to imagine it was going to be a single angel is going to speak loud enough for everybody.

Every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every people to hear a so this is not figurative.

This is an literal. This is symbolic. This is representative. But again, the communicator of the message to the John is relating to us is an angel who is his message for consider with me them the audience of the message. Notice what he says then I saw another angel flying the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth. This is a message for earth dwellers and then it's expanded to every nation tried tongue and people see the gospel does no good for those who have left this earth. Their opportunity to respond to the gospel and believing faith has passed. There is no purgatory.

There is no second chance. But this message is for those who dwell on the earth. Every nation tried tongue and people.

This message is not for a select few but it's for every person. I think that's what's being conveyed their to every nation tried tongue and people about the site here want to say we we looked at the audience for the message. Let's think thirdly about the content of the message. The content of the message using the communicator the message the audience of the message.

The content of the message.

It is the ever lasting gospel according to verse six I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the ever lasting gospel of that noun.

The noun gospel interestingly is found only one place in the book of Revelation, and that's here in chapter 14 it is modified by the adjective eternal.

This is the eternal gospel in that adjective eternal is stressing the timelessness and the permanence of the gospel message, and that's important is important for our day because there are voices there are movements there are trends to abandon the gospel for something more relevant a message that is geared more to man's felt needs. We hear people say the gospel.

It's outdated. It's antiquated. We need a better message a new and improved message that speaks to our culture and in many churches.

That's what's happening. Entertainment is taking the place of the preaching of the gospel with this message that's been entrusted is the everlasting gospel that is it's the same yesterday today and forever the gospel that is saved you is the same gospel that saved Abraham.

Abraham was looking on God's promise and believe in God's promise and were told that Abraham believed God, and it was counted on to him for righteousness. What would he believe about God. He believed up about a Redeemer that was going to come.

He was on the Old Testament side of Christ's coming where on the other side but it's the same message, he believed the same thing. You and I believe it's the same yesterday today and forever. The message does not change the gospel needs no alterations. It needs no amendments. It needs no it it knows no geographical boundaries.

The message that saves men and women.

Here's the same message that saves men and women in Zimbabwe is not a different message is the same everlasting gospel and that's why we can be so energetically engaged in world missions. We find missionaries that are aligned with our doctoral understanding in our theological understanding and we support them. We enter into partnership with them and we have confidence that when they go to wherever God is called them there preaching the same message were preaching there trusting the same gospel that were trusting and that's what binds our hearts together. So this message. This everlasting gospel. It's everlasting because the messages from God whose everlasting. It is untethered from the religious trappings of men so we are thankful for the content of the message that it is all these things and more.

What else to think about the content of the message sees not what we typically think or typically mention in the gospel talking about the content now of the gospel. The gospel is very different in that it does not this gospel that John is referring to. It's very different in that it does not mention Jesus. It does not mention his cross.

Nor is there any mention or emphasis on repentance instead the nations all people on earth. In fact, are called upon to do three things to fear God, give him glory, and in light of and to do that in light of his coming judgment and they are to worship him. Three things now as you as you study and as I have been studying and leaving you in a study through Revelation, the phrase to fear God and give him glory. Our code words for repentance and for conversion. More on that in a moment.

So just so you see what the content of this message is this everlasting gospel.

There these things are mentioned to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation tried tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, here it is the content. Fear God and give him and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water were moving rather quickly put quickly quicker than what I had anticipated.

Which I suppose is fine since the Lord's table service will Lord's table will be at the end of the preaching time, but think with me about the delivery of the message.

How is this eternal gospel to be delivered.

Again, notice the words that I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to preach to those who dwell on the earth. This message is to be preached and again this flies in the face of the consumer driven seeker sensitive approach. Many churches have acquiesced to the ideas people to want to sit for 45 minutes and hear somebody preach so were going to Jetta jettison away from that, we must abandon that but we been entrusted with the message that isn't for us to change the message or change the way the messages to be delivered. We must not abandon not only the message that's been entrusted to us, but also the means that God has given to communicate the gospel message. Therefore we preach. We don't give lectures. We don't have talks we don't deliver, lease, we don't have a conversation we don't have a dialogue. We have an expectation you have an expectation when you come to this meeting place your coming to hear somebody who is God called who is prepared and are going to preach. I'm thankful that in this place, there would be very little tolerance for anything else were not ashamed to preach.

We don't apologize for preaching because that's what God has called us to do that is what we are to do with this message to preach it and I believe that it is the primary means whereby God is determined to save his elect through the means of preaching is foolishness to the lost man, but to us were being saved it is the power of God, the power of God. It's been a while, but from time to time we get calls from marketing agents and there representing singing groups, inquires, and they want to schedule their singing group to common.

I often answer the phone or the secretary's length of the phone and send a message over to me and they say a pastor when when are you available on which Sunday could we come can we schedule a time to come and minister to your people know know we we we did where we can't do that and in their silence on the phone while we we we we were we go all over the country. I understand that but that's not something that I do here such a short conversation requires an singing groups have their place but not in the place of preaching. So we've seen the communicator of the message, an angel, we've seen the intended audience for the message those who dwell on the earth to every nation tried tongue and people considered the content of the message. What is that it is the everlasting gospel considered the delivery of the message.

Let's think through the commands that are in the message. This message this everlasting gospel is three commands to it. These are not suggestions. These are not options. These are not things just to to consider.

These are commands and what are they, they are number one to fear God number two to give glory to him. Number three to worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. The call to fear God and give him glory there numerous Old Testament and New Testament, and giving him glory is the only proper response to God's salvation is a chief sin not to worship the one who created and sustains us. In fact, failure, failure to fear God and give him glory and rendered him the worship he deserves merits God's judgment. In the next chapter. Chapter 15. Let me point this out to you in the context I don't want to be overly repetitive, but it's been a while since I've said this that we are not to view the book of Revelation in any kind of consecutive chronological fashion and one of the reasons that I want to say that to you is because in chapter 15 there is a reference to the second coming of Christ which is the fourth time there has been reference to the second coming of Christ. Please only come in once folks pay is only come in once with these visions that John sees keep coming to him and keep broadening out sourcing the cycles so chapter 15 is the fourth reference to the second coming of Christ and listen to me or listen to chapter 15 verse three and four and listen to the references the same references to fearing God giving him glory and worshiping him, they sang the song of Moses. This is chapter 15 in verse three, the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty just and true are your ways, O King of the of the saints. Notice verse four who shall not fear you will Lord, and glory, glorify your name. Who shall not fear you, oh Lord, and glorify your name. It is the right thing to do is stop it's the best thing to do is the expected thing to do, who shall not fear you will Lord, and glorify your name for you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested judgment awaits those who do not fear God, do not give him glory and do not worship him another's controversy as to whether this angelic message of the eternal gospel is an opportunity for people to repent and respond believing lead to the saving of their souls, or whether this is being set in this context right before the second coming. To give vindication as to why people will be judged. Some say that's why there is no reference to Jesus. That's why there's no reference to his death on the cross of Calvary. That's why there's no reference to sacrifice I'm not fully persuaded of that, but that's one of the explanations and I don't know if that really matters that much which is which is the accurate interpretation. It is a chief sin not to worship the one who created and sustains us failure to fear God. Failure to glorify him.

Failure to worship him deserves and merits God's judgment according to what I just read to you there and fifth chapter 15 which brings us to a final consideration tonight.

The reason for the commands. The reason for the commands and what are they notice again verse six and seven. Let me read them. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation tried tongue and people saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him who made heaven and earth to see the springs of water. The reason for these commands for the hour of his judgment has come. Opportunity for to respond to the gospel is that door of opportunity will soon be closed for the hour of his judgment is come in the only way to avoid God's wrath only way to avoid God's judgment is to bow the knee to fear God. The fool now has said in his heart there is no God in his the basis of hidden saying that is a moral argument.

He doesn't want to acknowledge God because he wants to live his own life indulge his sinful passions and is easy to say well there is no God, therefore I can do what I want. Let Smith that's a lie that's a deception there is a God and he will hold men accountable for their deeds.

So to avoid God's wrath and good judgment. We must bow the knee. We must fear him, we must give him the glory that is due him, we must worship him and in a moment were going to be gathering around the Lord's table. What is this it's memorial feast. It's a reminder it's setting the gospel again before us is one of the means that God is given to keep the gospel front and center. There's a reason on an of of its arm always interested to observe how church furniture is placed in. There's message is being communicated.

Sometimes very subtly but if you're observant and you going to a church. If you see the of the pulpit will be elevator will be over in a corner somewhere to me that's saying something.

There's a reason why this pulpit is in the dead center. This auditorium because this is a center of worship. This is the center.

This is where preaching takes place.

This is where God is declared and far as I know, it's always going to be in the center. We want to be gospel centered, we want to never, ever steer away from that we have a dear couple this given consideration to moving here and they been joining us Sunday morning Sunday night. In fact, I had the opportunity to meet them for the first time a few weeks ago and now they said we know when your wife's not here. We know where you set that were more faithful were more faithful than most of your members with Mr. service since October of the year ago and so we talk informally bestial to her nine yet a couple of questions. One of the questions he had was what insurances are that the things that characterize beacon Baptist Church, the God centered worship the God centered preaching would guarantee his or that those things will remain because he's observed the aging of our staff and nose and not all things will always remain the same so what is in place to ensure that this church will not alter will not fade away will not abandon its roots sits distinctives I said there's too many safeguards in place to be no tolerance among our people. If those things were abandoned so the philosophy of ministry and the approach to worship is led by the men that are here but when were not here were relevant, rather confident that this ministry will continue to be characterize the weight as over its history. The God is at the center.

He is worthy of our our best and we do our best to worship him as he has given us instructions not up for us to figure out she'll wonder what nothing we can come up with the day that maybe will please God. We don't have to wonder what pleases God. He's told us what pleases him when he read what Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 11 about the Lord's table pulses. This, for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, take eight. This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And in the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. So when we take the the way for to our mouth to ingest it. We are to do that. And as we do to remember him. We take the cup to her lips in the same fashion.

We are to do that in remembrance of him their symbols to remind us of Christ and his cross work and then this verse, verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. The Lord's table is a proclamation it's a preaching of the gospel. Every time we observe it, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. That's what I have for you tonight. We will consider the other two messages from the Angels there in Revelation chapter 14. Let me lead us in a word of prayer father how we thank you for the everlasting gospel that it is sufficient for all time. It is timeless is permanent. We don't have to change the message we don't have to improve the message.

The messages sufficient to save to the uttermost. So we thank you father for such a powerful message that is able to change men and women Boys and Girls Club are all eternity to change them from the inside out, make them new creatures in Christ Jesus to make them God-fearing people, people who are desirous of the glory of God.

Those who are interested in worshiping him who is high and lifted up. Thank you for making this such a people may those things always be precious to us in this place as long as we live upon this earth. And as long as we worship in this place. We pray in Jesus name, amen