Armor of God and the Three Angels' Messages

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Why take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Revelation 14

1 And I looked, and, see, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, 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.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 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,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and on the cloud one sat like to the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

20 And the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Yes, there is a vital relationship between the whole armor of God and the three angels' messages, as the armor provides the spiritual equipment necessary to proclaim these final warnings and stand against the deceptions of the last days7ABC 442.2+1.

The Purpose of the Armor in the Final Conflict

Proclaiming the third angel's message is a solemn work that brings believers into direct conflict with the powers of darkness19MR 328.1. This spiritual warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world Ephesians 6:12. To stand boldly at their post in the face of falsehood and detraction, those who bear this message must be girt with the truth and the breastplate of righteousness Ephesians 6:147ABC 442.2.

• Standing Against Deception: The third angel's message warns against the worship of the beast and his image, a delusion so strong that only those shielded by the whole armor of God and watching unto prayer will be able to resist it Revelation 14:9-11ARSH December 26, 1854, page 147.5.

• Preparation for the Loud Cry: As the message rises in power toward the "loud cry," God's people must arise and put on the armor to be prepared for the increased intensity of the conflictARSH October 4, 1864, page 151.19+1.

• The Shield of Faith: Taking the shield of faith is essential to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, which are often aimed at neutralizing the impact of the three angels' messages Ephesians 6:16GCDB February 20, 1899, page 37.11.

The Nature of the Armor

The armor required for this work is not "pugilistic" or carnal, such as ridicule or sarcasm, but is the armor of Christ’s righteousness7MR 80.1+1.

• The Sword of the Spirit: The primary weapon for those proclaiming the third angel's message is the Word of God, used to resist the enemy by declaring, "It is written" Ephesians 6:177ABC 442.2.

• Spiritual Discernment: Every piece of the gospel armor is needed now to provide the sharp spiritual discernment necessary to avoid being taken captive by the enemy's specious reasonings7MR 122.1+1.

• Dependence on Divine Power: Putting on the armor signifies a move away from human wisdom and a total reliance on the wisdom of God and the molding influence of the Holy SpiritCT 488.1+1.

Armor and the Characteristics of the Remnant

Revelation 14 describes a people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation 14:12. This "faith of Jesus" is strengthened when the believer is "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" through the use of the divine armorEVRR510+1.

• Health Reform as an Auxiliary: Health reform is closely connected to the third angel's message, acting like the hand to the body, and it helps the believer maintain the physical and mental vigor needed to wear the armor successfully3T 161.1+1.

• Victory Over Self: The spiritual warfare mentioned by Paul involves bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, which is the same work of purification required by the messages of Revelation 14 to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord 2 Corinthians 10:51MCP 69.2+1.

• Final Reward: Those who faithfully wear the armor and proclaim the message will eventually lay it off only when their work is done, resting in Jesus until they receive the crown of righteousness at His appearing Revelation 14:1318MR 28.3+1.

It is our privilege to be "valiant soldiers" in this closing work, ensuring we have on the whole armor of God so that we may withstand in the evil day and, having done all, stand firm Ephesians 6:13ARSH May 7, 1861, page 198.10+1. 🛡️✨