Many attributes and offices of God are brought to view in the sacred writings. Among these his position as Creator and Redeemer is made specially prominent. His power and his love as displayed in these two manifestations of his divine character, represent him to his creatures in a breadth and fullness such as come by a contemplation of none other of his attributes. In creation are seen the power and wisdom and majesty and might of Him who “spake and it was,” who “commanded, and it stood fast.” In redemption, or recreation, is witnessed a new exhibition of the same creative power, but so coupled with grace and so manifest in love as to reveal the wealth of mercy, tenderness, and compassion of the God who so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son to die for a race of sinners.
These two great characteristics of the Godhead are prominent features of the threefold message of Revelation 14. In that message is revealed
God as Creator.
This is shown in the proclamation of the first angel: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Verse 7. Men are fearing false gods. They are either taking glory to themselves, or giving it to them which by nature are no gods. The message seeks to arrest their attention. From the lords many and gods many of this world, from the worship of self and the homage rendered to the beast power, it calls attention to the true God and to the claims of his service.
In thus calling attention to the object of true worship, care is taken to point out who the true God is. It is the Creator, he who “made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” This designation constitutes the proper name of the God of heaven. By his great characteristic as Creator, the one true God is distinguished from the gods of men’s minds and imaginings. Reasoning from this fact, the great apostle to the gentiles shows the difference between the true God and the false gods worshiped by the heathen. “We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” Acts 14:15. In Acts 17:23, 24 the apostle presents the same argument: “For as I passed
by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” See also Ps. 96:5, and Jer. 10:10–12.
The third angel’s message of Revelation 14 brings to view
God as Redeemer.
In verse 6 the proclamation which the angel delivers is said to be “the everlasting Gospel.” The Gospel is “the good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” based upon the fact of the birth of Christ the Lord, who was born a Saviour unto the world. Luke 2:10, 11. The Gospel is thus made “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. It is spoken of as “everlasting,” because it partakes of the character of its divine Author. It forms a part of God’s eternal purpose, and the benefits and blessings it bestows are enduring in their influence.
The threefold message is both positive and negative. It is negative in that it warns against the worship of false gods, and the rendering of obedience to carnal commandments. It is positive in that it directs worship to the one true object of devotion,—the Creator of the universe, requiring that glory be given to him. This is the work of the Gospel in its truest significance. Of it Paul says: “Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col. 1:27, 28. The message of Revelation 14 is a Gospel message, and as such Christ stands as its central figure.
The Sign of Creative and Redemptive Power.
In revealing God’s character, the message brings to view the great memorial of his creative work. This is so in the nature of the case. By this message men are warned against the worship of the beast, and the reception of his mark. By implication, attention is called in this to the worship of God, in the keeping of his commandments, and the receiving of his sign. This is further emphasized in the call to “fear God, and give glory to him.” To fear God is to keep his precepts. Says the psalmist, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps. 111:10. Says the wise man, “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13. Says the apostle, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. To give glory to God is to be transformed by his renewing grace, to bear fruit, to obey his commands.
The natural man comes short of God’s glory, in that he sins; “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore violating the law is to come short of the glory of God. Equally true is the converse, that to keep the law is to glorify him. Thus to fear God, to glorify him, is to keep his law, and as a part of that law, his distinguishing mark, the memorial of his power in the creation of the earth. That mark, that memorial, is the Sabbath institution, sanctified in Eden and given to the race of man to keep forever in mind the mighty acts of his Creator. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Gen. 2:3. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Ex. 20:8–11.
Says David, “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.” Ps. 111:4. And again, “Thy name, O Lord, endureth forever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.” This memorial, by which the one true God is to be kept in mind, is a sign or seal between the Lord and his people. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Ex. 31:16, 17.
But the law of God and the Sabbath, as a part of that law, is spiritual. Rom. 7:14. Hence, only he who is spiritual, who is born of God, can keep that law. The term “Israel” as used above refers not to the fleshly seed of Abraham, but to the spiritual seed in all ages. See Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:7, 16, 29.7
It therefore appears that the Sabbath commandment becomes a sign of the Redeemer, as well as a sign of the Creator. This is plainly stated in Ex. 31:13: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” The Sabbath is the sign of sanctification, the seal received by the followers of the true God, in contradistinction to the mark of opposing powers.
Thus the message reveals God in his double office of Creator and Redeemer, and the memorial and sign of his creative works, the day which he has made holy, and the observance of which he enjoins.
To you and to me, dear reader, does the message come, asking us to render to God that glory and fear which are due to his name. May we heed its admonitions while its warning cry is still sounding. The company brought to view in Rev. 14:12, who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” are fast being gathered from among the nations. May the broad and firm platform of their faith prove the basis of our faith and hope in our Creator and Redeemer, the one true God, Christ Jesus the Lord.
