The First Angel’s Message

Who gives the first angel’s message?

We are to send the first angel’s message into all the world.

 These three angels represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages, and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. Christ declared to His followers, “Ye are the light of the world.” To every soul that accepts Jesus, the cross of Calvary speaks: “Behold the worth of the soul. ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.’” Nothing is to be permitted to hinder this work. It is the all-important work for this time, and it is to be far-reaching as eternity.  {ST, January 25, 1910 par. 5}

 When was the first angel’s message first given?

The first message was given in 1843 and 1844.

“The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been, and the things that will be.”–Manuscript 32, 1896.  {CW 26.2}

 Where did the prophecy of the first angel’s message have its most direct fulfillment?        

 The first angel’s message was most fulfilled in the US by the early Adventists.

To William Miller and his colaborers it was given to preach the warning in America.This country became the center of the great advent movement. It was here that the prophecy of the first angel’s message had its most direct fulfillment.  The writings of Miller and his associates were carried to distant lands. Wherever missionaries had penetrated in all the world, were sent the glad tidings of Christ’s speedy return. Far and wide spread the message of the everlasting gospel: “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”  {GC 368.1}

 

Why was the first angel’s message given?

The first angel’s message was given because the churches have become corrupted.

Because the principles of the churches have become corrupted. . . .[Rev. 14:6-10 quoted.]  {7BC 979.1}  

 How is the first angel’s message announcing  “the hour of His judgment is come,” a part of the gospel?

This part of the first angel’s message is a part of the gospel because it points to the closing of Christ’s ministration. 

The announcement, “The hour of His judgment is come,” points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation.  {GC 435.2}

While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.  {GC 425.1}

 What were the consequences to the churches when they rejected the first angel’s message?  [A how problem]

The consequence to the churches when they rejected the first angel’s message was that God rejected them. By choosing to reject the first message they chose to go against God.

When the churches spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” [REV. 14:8] This message was understood by Adventists to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in consequence of their rejection of the first message. The proclamation, “Babylon is fallen,” was given in the summer of 1844, and as the result, about fifty thousand withdrew from these churches.  {4SP 232.1}

The first angel’s message of Revelation 14, announcing the hour of God’s judgment and calling upon men to fear and worship Him, was designed to separate the professed people of God from the corrupting influences of the world and to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and backsliding. In this message, God has sent to the church a warning, which, had it been accepted, would have corrected the evils that were shutting them away from Him. Had they received the message from heaven, humbling their hearts before the Lord and seeking in sincerity a preparation to stand in His presence, the Spirit and power of God would have been manifested among them. The church would again have reached that blessed state of unity, faith, and love which existed in apostolic days, when the believers “were of one heart and of one soul,” and “spake the word of God with boldness,” when “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 4:32, 31; 2:47. {GC 379.1}

How does the first angel’s message influence the second angel’s message?               

The first angel’s message influences the second angel’s message because of the fact that the people rejected the first angel’s message they recieved the second.

When the churches spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” [REV. 14:8] This message was understood by Adventists to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in consequence of their rejection of the first message. The proclamation, “Babylon is fallen,” was given in the summer of 1844, and as the result, about fifty thousand withdrew from these churches.{4SP 232.1}

 How is the first angel’s message still relevant today?

THe first angel’s message is still relevant today because it outlines the work to be done in the last days.

“The fourteenth chapter of Revelation outlines the work that is to be done by the people of God just before the second advent of our Saviour. Three messages are there represented, which must go to all the inhabitants of the world.”  {ST, January 25, 1910 par. 1}

The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third ; but all three of the  messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been, and the things that will be.–Manuscript 32, 1896.  {CW 26.2} 

What is the “action step” for the first angel’s message?

The action step is for us to not only hear the message but to accept it and to allow God to change our lives.

That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment, the message commands them to “fear God, and give glory to Him,” “and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the word: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”  In order to be prepared for the judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the judgment.   {GC 435.2}   

 

 How does the first angel’s message, as it was perceived during the advent movement of 1840-1844, fit together with the actual content of the first angel’s message?

 It was perceived to announce the soon return of Christ when in reality it was talking about the investiagative judgement although it does call us to repent of our sins and follow Him.

“The announcement, “The hour of His judgment is come,” points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation.”  {GC 435.2}

“While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.”  {GC 425.1}