THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
Its Basis in the Seven Trumpets.
We are now to study the place of the great nations of the earth, in their relation to the Third Angel's Message, considered from the basis of the line of prophecy of the Seven Trumpets in Revelation. The first thing in order, therefore, is to discover that the Third Angel's Message really has a basis in the Seven Trumpets. This, however, will be easy; for it is made perfectly plain in the Scriptures. Let us begin with the Third Angel's Message,—Rev. 14:9,—and follow backward its direct connections. The first words in the wording of the Third Angel's Message are: “And the third angel followed them.” This shows that some have gone before, whom the third angel “followed.” Take, then, the preceding verse: “And there followed another angel.” This shows that an angel has also preceded this one, which, when this one follows, makes it “another.” Go back now to the sixth verse: “And I saw another angel.” This also certifies that an angel has gone before, which causes this one, as he flies in the midst of heaven, to be “another.” Following back in the book of Revelation, we find no angel, except the seventh trumpet angel, until we come to the first verse of chapter ten; and there we read: “And I saw another mighty angel.” This expression, as before, certifies that, before this, there is an angel, which, when this one comes forth, causes him to be spoken of as “another.” Following further back, we find no angels, except the sixth and the fifth trumpet angels, until we reach the last verses of chapter eight; and there we reach the primal, and read: “And I beheld, and heard an angel”—not “another angel,” but, primarily, “an angel.” Thus, beginning with Rev. 8:13, there is a series of angels connected by the word “another,” straight through to the third angel with his message. Thus:—
“I beheld, and heard an angel.” Rev. 8:13.
“And I saw another mighty angel.” Rev. 10:1.
“And I saw another angel.” Rev. 14:6.
“And there followed another angel.” Verse 8.
“And the third angel followed them.” Verse 9. But now notice: That angel in Rev. 8:13, the first in this series that connects straight through to the third angel,—this angel comes in right in the midst of the series of the Seven Trumpets. The first four trumpets sound in Rev. 8:7–12. Immediately following the fourth, between that and the fifth trumpet angel, comes in the first one in this other series of angels that connects straight through to the Third Angel's Message. And this angel of Rev. 8:13 not only comes in in the midst of the seven trumpet angels, but his word relates directly to the remaining three of the seven trumpet angels. Thus reads the whole verse: “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” These three woes belong with the last three trumpets, one with each. This is certain by the fact that, when the fifth angel's work is ended, it is written: “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.” Rev. 9:12. And when the sixth trumpet is ended, it is written: “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded.” Rev. 11:15. Thus, it is plain that the three woes pronounced by the primal angel, who comes in in the midst of the Seven Trumpets, are expressive of the character of the last three of the Seven Trumpets. Then, just at the end of the sixth trumpet, and before the sounding of the seventh, we find the words: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven,” etc. And this angel gives his message before the seventh trumpet sounds, because he speaks directly of the seventh trumpet as yet future, in the words: “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound,” etc. Rev. 10:7. Then, when the seventh angel does sound, it is written: “And the seventh angel sounded. . . . And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great.” Rev. 11:15–18. Thus, under the sounding of the seventh trumpet angel, there comes “the time of the dead, that they should be judged;” and along with this comes that “other angel,” in Rev. 14:6, 7, “having the everlasting gospel to preach, . . . saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment IS come.” Rev. 14:6, 7. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” Rev. 14:9, 10. And of the events that occur under the sounding of the seventh angel, one is, “Thy wrath is come.” Further: the Third Angel's Message is followed immediately by the coming of the Lord; for it is written: “I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Rev. 14:14. It is at the coming of the Lord that the saints of God are rewarded. For he says: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. And one of the events that occur under the sounding of the seventh trumpet is “that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great.” Thus, by every consideration of the word of God on the subject of the Third Angel's Message and the Seven Trumpets, it is certain that the Seven Trumpets are a basis of the Third Angel's Message. This being so, it is certain that the Third Angel's Message is held in view from the very first of the Seven Trumpets, unto the last one. Therefore, in studying the Seven Trumpets, from beginning to end, we are studying the Third Angel's Message, from its foundation unto its end.