“And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people.” Revelation 14:6 (NASB)

 Revelation 13 showed that Satan’s end-time deception will be so successful that the world will choose to worship the beast and receive its mark. (C.f. The choice at the cross between Jesus and Barabbas) Yet, Revelation 14:1–5 tells us that God will have a group; those who will take their stand for the Lord when most of the world doesn’t.  

In the end, people will have to choose, not whether to worship or not (everyone always worships something), but rather, whom to worship. The worshipers of the beast will receive the mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, symbolic of their choice to serve this apostate system with their deeds and/or minds.  

At the same time, the world will witness a great proclamation of the gospel such as has not been seen since the day of Pentecost or the Reformation. Before the judgments of God are poured out upon rebellious humanity, God will send His warning messages “to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6, NKJV). God does not want anyone to perish but all to be saved, which is why Christ’s death was for all humanity. The question is who will accept that provision and who won’t. 

Just before the end, God sends His warning messages, symbolically portrayed in terms of three vocal (loud voice) angels flying in the sky. The Greek word for angel (angelos) means “messenger.” Evidence from Revelation suggests that the three angels stand for God’s people who are entrusted with the end-time message to share with the world.   

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that the one sign preceding the second coming was the gospel going to all the world. All 3 synoptic gospel writers included this “Olivet discourse.” John did not because inspiration knew he was going to receive an expanded version. The Olivet sermon on the end of the world (Matt 24 & 25) is like a table of contents to the book of Revelation. 

These verses of Revelation 14:6-7 remind us that salvation is totally and completely of God. We cannot add anything to it. All we can do is accept what has been done for us through Jesus. Our responsibility is simply to trust and obey (to use the words of an old hymn.) Solomon, in his conclusion to the book of Ecclesiastes said “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl 12:13.). Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” John 14:15.