2023-Q2-L02

2023-Q2-L02: A Moment of Destiny

Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 24:14, Rev. 14:14-20, Matt. 16:27, Acts 1:9-11, Mark 4:26-29, Rev. 16:1.

Memory Text: “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe’” (Revelation 14:14, 15, NKJV).

Revelation 14:14-20: Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Commentary on Revelation 14:14-20

There is symmetry between verses 14-16 and 17-20.

An angel comes out of the temple in both cases. The first comes out of the temple and calls to the Son of man to put in the sickle and reap. The 3rd comes out from the altar can calls to the 2nd angel to put in the sickle and reap.

The sickle is sharp.

There is a harvest in both. The first harvest is of unknown grain. The 2nd angel reaped grapes.

Cried with a loud voice in both cases.

Loud Voice Angels study.

Call with a loud voice (phone megale, i.e. voice large).

Ellen White also understood the message of the Three Angels of Revelation 14 to be the message that God will use to ripen the two harvests.

In conclusion, the grape harvest describes the eschatological punishment of the worshipers of the beast that have received the mark of the beast and his image. This forms a parallel with the judgments of the trumpet woes that are directed against the end time idolaters that have refused the protective seal of God.

Revelation 10 (mighty angel [Michael], 7 thunders, the little scroll) is chiastically connected to Revelation 14:14-16. The scroll in Revelation 10 also alludes to the larger scroll in Revelation 5.

According to the literary connections between Rev. 10:7, 11 and Rev. 14:6, the little book of Rev. 10 is connected to the message of the Three Angels. These parallels make a connection between the seven thunders and the Three Angels of Revelation 14.

http://www.daniel11prophecy.com/uploads/1/1/3/7/113721993/hugo_leon_angels_that_speak_with_a_loud_voice_in_the_book_of_revelation.pdf

The “eating” of the little book signifies the internalization and comprehension of the Danielic prophetic message (cf. Ez. 3:2-3; Ps. 119:103; Jer. 15:16).350 The consumption of the little book is followed by a divine order to prophesy its contents and measure the temple with its worshipers (Rev. 10:8-11:1). The order to prophesy lets us know that the content of the little book is prophetic.

Ellen White also saw a connection between Rev. 10 and the Three Angels of Rev.
14. See the quotation below.“The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming that the hour of God's judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning to our world.” {2SM 107.3}

Scholars have also noted thematic and linguistic connections between the order to prophesy to many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings in Rev. 10:11 and the order to preach the “everlasting gospel” to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in Rev. 14:6 (cf. Matt. 24:14).363 This parallel serves to connect the little book of Rev. 10 with the Three Angel’s Messages of Rev. 14. It also connects the end time remnant that will “eat” the little book with the 144,000 who will preach the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels.

According to Ellen White it is the message of the Three Angels that will ripen the harvest of the wheat

“I then saw the third angel [Revelation 14:9-11]. Said my accompanying angel,“Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner.” {EW 118}

In conclusion, the wheat harvest of Rev. 14:14-16 presents the eschatological gathering in of the righteous that have responded positively to the message of the Mighty Angel of Rev. 10 and the Three Angels of Rev. 14.

Angels that cry in a loud voice (phone megale)

A. The Initiation of the Investigative Judgment (Rev. 5:2)

B. The Sealing of the 144,000 Before the Four Winds Are Let Loose (Rev. 7:2)

C. The Three Woes Against the Unsealed (Rev. 8:13)

D. A Call to Prophesy to the Inhabitants of the Earth (Rev. 10:1, 3)

E. The First Angel: A Call to Worship the Creator and be Sealed (Rev. 14:6-7)

F. The Second Angel: A Celestial Verdict Against Babylon/Followers (Rev. 14:8)

E1. The Third Angel: A Warning Not to be Marked/Worship Beast (Rev. 14:9)

D1. The Harvest of the Sealed (Rev. 14:15)

C1. The Harvest of the Marked (Rev. 14:18)

B1. The Last Call to be Sealed Before Babylon is Desolated (Rev. 18:1,2)

A1. The Destruction of the Unsealed/Marked (Rev. 19:17)

Notes

Last week was on Revelation 12 and this week at the end of Revelation 14.

Ed 263.2: Our world is a vast lazar house, a scene of misery that we dare not allow even our thoughts to dwell upon. Did we realize it as it is, the burden would be too terrible. Yet God feels it all. In order to destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved, and He has put it in our power, through co-operation with Him, to bring this scene of misery to an end. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.

lazar. ARCHAIC. a poor and diseased person, especially one afflicted by a feared, contagious disease such as leprosy.

White cloud. The entirety of heaven comes to take us home. The angels are around the cloud. Jesus sits on the cloud. The redeemed saints enter into the cloud. The base of the cloud had a glory like consuming fire. Above the cloud the rainbor of the covenant.

EGW

"The final message of mercy to the world."

COL 415.3: It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.

COL 415.5: Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God.” The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.

Four biblical judgments

The first two are with the 1st angel's message.

Revelation 14:7: And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Romans 3:4: By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Who is the "you" in Romans 3:4? The "you" is God. How is God judged? It is a revelation of the truth about God. "Let God be true." Jesus came to reveal the truth about God.

John 12:32 (ESV): And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

John 12:32 (KJV): And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32 (CLV): And I, if I should be exalted out of the earth, shall be drawing all to Myself.

Colossians 1:19-20: For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

1st judgment. The first judgment is our judgment of God.

Adam and Eve's sin did not create a legal problem so much as a lethal problem. The solution to the sin problem is not some legal satisfaction with God, but a restoration of man from his sin condition. God heals man through grace.

Malachi 3:3: He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

2nd judgment. This healing, this transformation, this final work of preparation is the second form of judgment.

We individually must first make a judgment about God, to trust Him and open the heart to Him; then Jesus, our heavenly High Priest, enters our heart, examines us more thoroughly than any doctor and judges (diagnosis) what needs fixing and, via the Holy Spirit, cuts away all defects (circumcises the heart), and writes His law of love into our hearts (Hebrews 8:10), thus cleansing our Spirit temples to prepare us to meet Him face to face.

3rd judgment. This one is in heaven in the millenium. In the 1,000 years in heaven we are given the evidence of human history and we make a judgment of how God dealt with it. We make the judgment that those who are lost are lost
because that is what they prefer and that there was nothing more God could have done for them.

Revelation 20:4-6: Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

1 Corinthians 6:3: Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

4th judgment. This judgment is the final judgment at the end of the 1,000 years. It is often called the Great White Throne Judgment.

Revelation 20:11-12: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

The wicked will be judgment by the words, the acts, the character. Having rejected salvation, which is a transferance of guilt and a restoration to God's character, the individual "pays" for his/her own sins. They are "sealed" in their determination to rebel. There is no hope for their condition.

Dealing with morality through law

2nd angel reveals and exposes the Babylonian system of imposed law. This system includes godlessness, evolution, secularism, communism, paganism, mysticism, humanism, etc. All systems that are anti-God and anti-Christ. They are anti- Truth, Love and Freedom.

The perverted gospel is one which turns the gospel into law. It is when religion uses the civil authorities to demand and enforce religion. The perverse gospel is one which shoves religion down people's throats.

In the dark ages, Christianity became the state religion and an exchange takes place: the church is invested with political power, and it invests the civil authorities with religious power.

The spreading of the gospel is then done by force. Effectively, this was one of the temptations in the wilderness Jesus had from Satan. That is, to bow before Satan and receive power over the nations.

In the dark ages, hardly coming out of persecution, the church became the persecutor.

The antithesis of Truth, Love and Freedom. Satan's kingdom is that of coercion, imposing a system of laws over an individual's conscience.

Third Angel's Message

https://comeandreason.com/files/share/3Angels_Magazine_web.pdf

SUNDAY. Eternal Choices.

Scripture

Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 14:6: Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

From the lesson: Of course, every day, by our choices even in the so-called “little things,” we are choosing either for or against Jesus. It’s not likely that someone constantly making the wrong choices in their life now, will suddenly, at the final crisis, come down on the side of Jesus, especially when the force of the whole evil world is against them. Now, today, and every day we must choose to be faithful to Christ and to His commandments. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3, NKJV). As Ellen G. White has said: “Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny.” — Last Day Events, p. 295.

Notes

What does it mean to keep God's commandments?

Think in terms of "seals." The righteous, the 144,000, will have the seal of God, while the wicked will have the seal of the Beast.

Seal. The seal is the name, either of God or the Beast. A name in the Bible represents Character. It is the character of God or the character of the Beast. The character of the Beast is of a Babylonian nature.

MONDAY. The Son of Man Returns

Scripture

Revelation 14:14: Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Matthew 16:27: For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 24:27: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:30: Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 25:31–32: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

From the lesson: Jesus used the term “Son of Man” to refer to Himself 82 times in the Gospels. It was one of His favorite titles. He used it as an expression of endearment to identify with us. He is a Savior who understands us, has experienced our temptations, and has passed through our trials. He is the “Son of Man” who is returning to take us home. The Jesus who comes for us is the same Jesus who lived among us. He is qualified to redeem us because He became One of us, and yet, as one of us, He met the full fury of Satan’s temptations and, yes, was victorious.

TUESDAY. The Heavenly Judgment

Scripture

Revelation 14:14: Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Acts 1:9–11: And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Daniel 7:9–10: “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

From the lesson: In Daniel 7:9, 10, Daniel views the seating of the heavenly court with ten thousand times ten thousand of angelic, heavenly beings gathered around the throne. The judgment is set, and the books — the celestial records of our lives — are opened before the universe. In Daniel 7:13, 14, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days, the Father, and receives His eternal kingdom.

Notes

Judgment does not turn goats into sheep, but only reveals, acknowledges the true character of the individual.

Revelation 22:11-12: Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Four judgments. (1)

Royal court. Jesus is being crowned. And proven worthy to receive this kingdom. Same as Revelation 5. Not judicial but revelation of the truth.

Daniel 7:21–22: As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for [KJV: to] the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

The saints are given the ability to make the right judgment about God.

WEDNESDAY. The Victor’s Crown

Scripture

Revelation 14:15: And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

Mark 4:26–29: And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

THURSDAY. Every Seed Produces a Harvest

Scripture

Revelation 14:17–20: Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Revelation 14:10: he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Revelation 15:1: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Revelation 16:1: Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

From the lesson: “Another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire” (Rev. 14:18, NKJV). Here is the angel who commands the fires of God’s final judgment. The harvest is ripe. Sin has reached its limits. Rebellion has crossed the line of God’s mercy. As evil and bad as things have been, it’s going to get even worse before it’s all over. A loving God has done everything He can do for us, which included offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21, NKJV; see also Gal. 3:13).

Notes

The lesson gets it wrong. The "fire" comes from the altar in the temple. This fire was not intended for God's final judgment. Said another way: God's final judgment will not come from the angel having command over fire. The full Revelation 14:18 verse (and in context) reads as follows:

Revelation 14:17-19: Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Is "fire" used anywhere in these verses? Answer: no. So, this judgment is not a judgment by fire. This angel tells another angel with the sickle to reap. The context suggests that it is referring to the 2nd coming. Verse 14 reads, "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand." This is the reaping at the 2nd coming.

Isaiah 6:6-7: Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

FRIDAY. Further Thought: “It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or truth. If self is his loftiest ideal, he will never attain to anything more exalted. Rather, he will constantly sink lower and lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt man. Left to himself, his course must inevitably be downward.” — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 555.

APPENDIX

Revelation overview

Revelation 1. Introduction to the players with a focus on Christ.

Revelation 2-11. The 7 spirits, 7 churches, 7 seals, and 7 trumpets.

Revelation 12. The center of the chiasm.

Revelation 13. Beasts

Revelation 14. Three angels' messages.

Revelation 15-16. 7 last plagues.

Revelation 17-18. Woman + Scarlet Beast.

Revelation 19-20. Coming of Christ.

Revelation 21-22. New Heavens and New Earth.

7 lampstands are the 7 churches.

7 stars are the teachers:

AA 586.3: “These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand.” Revelation 2:1. These words are spoken to the teachers in the church—those entrusted by God with weighty responsibilities. The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with God's ministers, who are to reveal the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under His control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements. If He did not do this, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers. They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power. Through them His light is to shine forth. The Saviour is to be their efficiency. If they will look to Him as He looked to the Father they will be enabled to do His work. As they make God their dependence, He will give them His brightness to reflect to the world.

Seven spirits of God

Revelation 4:5: Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 5:6: And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 8:2: Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

"the seven angels". Greek, tous hepta angelous. The definite article, "the" is in the Greek text. The same is true with the word "God". When it is "the God" it is referring to the Father. Thus, it is not any 7 angels, but "the" 7 angels before the throne. It is a specific group of 7 angels. The only question remains is if these 7 angels are different from the 7 spirits.

Around the throne. Per Revelation 4, there are 4 living creatures, 24 elders, and 7 spirits (7 lamps/torches). No other beings mentioned besides the myriads of angels around the throne (Revelation 5:11). When Revelation 8:2 mentions the 7 angels, they cannot be equivalent to any other group than the 7 spirits.

7 spirits = 7 lamps (or torches) of fire = 7 eyes of the Lamb = 7 angels who stand before God and blow 7 trumpets (8:2)

7 spirits. Interpreted as (1) sevenfold ministry of the Spirit. or (2) seven angels with special duties that they play out in the book of Revelation. That is, the 7 spirits are the 7 angels with trumpets and/or 7 angels that pour out the 7 last plagues.

Book of Enoch 9:1 and 40:9 (apocryphal, apocalyptic Hebrew book) lists 7 angels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Suriel, and Phanuel.

Book of Enoch (1 Enoch before Christ era; the other two 2 and 3 Enoch are post-Christ era). The Book of Enoch contains unique material on the origins of demons and Nephilim, why some angels fell from heaven, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary, and prophetic exposition of the thousand-year reign of the Messiah. None are canonical scripture by either Jews or Christians. A short section of 1 Enoch (1:9) is cited in the New Testament Epistle of Jude, Jude 1:14–15, and is attributed there to "Enoch the Seventh from Adam" (1 Enoch 60:8)

It has also been alleged that the First Epistle of Peter (1 Peter 3:19–20) and the Second Epistle of Peter (2 Peter 2:4–5) make reference to some Enochian material.

In 1 Enoch 46:1-2 a reference to "the Lord of the spirits" and says:

"There I beheld the Ancient of Days, whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of man… Then I inquired of one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was; whence he was and why he accompanied the Ancient of days. He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of Spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness."

This common Enochian phrase, “the Lord of the Spirits,” may be connected with, “…the seven spirits who are before his throne,” in Revelation 1:4.

A third interpretive possibility, however, presents itself when we once again compare the book of Revelation to 1 Enoch. The seven spirits may also be seen as seven angelic figures who serve before the throne of God. This is a concept found in some such Jewish extra-canonical texts. It is significant that these seven figures appear not only in 1 Enoch, but also in other Jewish books – both Biblical and para-biblical.

It is at least conceivable that first-century Jews (including John, the Jew, who authored the book of Revelation) had a similar concept in mind when he spoke of the Seven Spirits that are before the throne of God (compare Revelation 1:4-5 with 1 Enoch 20:1-8). In so doing, John may have been describing the Heavenly Court assembled and ready to act.

Israel’s God, His Anointed Messiah, and these seven powerful angelic beings were sending both a message of hope and a challenge to endure to the first century followers of Jewish Christ who were struggling under extreme pressure to find their social identity in the unapologetically and forcefully polytheistic Roman society (Rev. 1:4-5).

Psalm 103:19-20: The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!