God will sort it out.

A reminder that the dragon with his 2 side-kicks, the beast of the sea representing political power and the beast of the earth representing religious power are chasing the offspring of the Woman (this is us). The battle has raged constantly and seems to intensify in every generation and we wonder just how wicked can the world become. Throughout history we see the Church in some part of the world under great tribulation and Revelation takes us to an even greater tribulation and an even greater battle to end it all. We know what John sees at the commencement of chapter 14 the King of kings, Jesus the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion as ruler of the nations. John also sees another angel.

Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14 v 6-7)

This angel is mid-air, like a bird of prey ready for judgment. The angel is moving across the surface of the world with the eternal gospel. If this is indeed the angel who preaches the gospel then it is the only place in the New Testament when it is so.

The Mormons believe this is obviously Angel Moroni who chatted with John Smith on numerous occasion sin 1823!

Some think the angel in mid-air is obviously in this generation with our brilliant digital technology.

But trying to find out the identity of this angel is nothing new. At the funeral of Martin Luther in 1546, the preacher stated that this angel was definitely Luther. In the 17^th century some believed it was John Wicliff “who wrote more than two hundred volumes against the pope, and was a means of much good to many” (writings from a guy called John Trapp). In the 18^th century a commentator that some still use today, Adam Clarke, definitely believed it was The British and Foreign Bible Society. Following such interpretations I would have thought Billy Graham would have been seen as the angel! The angel of course could be the Church, us, with the gospel spreading all over the world. However, instead of focusing on who the angel represents, read what the angel says, ‘the hour has come’ is the declaration. That’s the kingdom of God declaration ever since Christ walked the earth. He is here. God has come to sort it all out.

We know we are in a battle. We haven’t needed to read Revelation to know this. But John definitely shows us the attacks from the dragon. The beasts of political and religious powers are still attacking the church. It attacks from outside and it deceives from inside the Church. We hold out with the eternal gospel. We resist the selfish compromise. We stand against the worldly oppressive leadership occupying footholds on the altars of the Church. As we do the battle intensifies but the eternal gospel spreads to every nation, tribe, language and people. But the message is also one to strengthen the Church. It is this, ‘don’t give up, God is here, He will sort it all out.’ The unfairness of your life; the pain; the many question marks; these will be judged and you will live. The oppressors, the wicked ones and those who defile Christ and His Church will be judged and they will die.

God will sort it out.