October 13: THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
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, tribe, tongue, and people— Revelation 14:6
The previous single angel that John had encountered in vision was the seventh trumpet angel announcing the change of leadership in this world from the devil to Christ (11:15). The next two chapters (12 & 13) are a distinctive and astounding overview of developments in the history of the controversy between good and evil from the birth of Christ forward, but also includes a glimpse all the way back to Babylon (13:2).
John saw another angel bringing a message* that is to be preached on the earth in the last days. Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, he wrote it down for the angels (preachers) of the last-day church to preach. The word angel simply means messenger. Remember that the pastors to whom Jesus wrote the seven letters in chapters 2 & 3 were addressed as angels: “To the angel of the church of....write”
John wrote that this angel’s message was about having the everlasting gospel to preach… This is because, like the Lord Himself, the true gospel has never changed. It is eternal. This is significant and especially relevant to people living at the close of earth’s history because the end-time gospel is not a different gospel (Galatians 1:6) or about another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) from the original message preached by the Apostles. It is the unaltered good news that was launched at Pentecost (see Acts 2:2 and Revelation 5:6).
The intended audience for this message is: those who dwell on the earth, this phrase being unique to Revelation in reference to the lost. No one is to be excluded from hearing this message. Many of the world’s religions, including some Christian denominations, forbid their congregations to hear or view any material other than their own “brand.” Nevertheless, the everlasting gospel will reach every people group in every language before Jesus returns. The commission through John to prophesy again concerning many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings (10:11) is being repeated. This repeated commission is timed to counteract the coercive measures taken by Satan through his two united allies (13:15-17). Satan’s end-time activities are global in scope, and so is the everlasting gospel message. In mercy, God is calling people everywhere back to Himself. This is a fulfillment of the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to the nations, and then the end will come.”
“For I am the LORD, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6
*An unfortunate misunderstanding of this verse has pastors and speakers saying that there will be a literal skywriting angel who writes a gospel message in all languages for all people to see. This false belief actually creates vulnerability to the powers, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9) that will be part of the last-day deceptions before Jesus returns to collect His bride.