ng period of trial and patience that has followed
their disappointment, many of them have, to a great extent, lost sight of their
original faith. A considerable number now contend that these angels are to utter
their voices of warning in the future age; that is, in a period subsequent to the
Second Advent. Another class attempt to show that they had their fulfillment
many ages in the past: the first angel beginning in the days of the apostles, the
second in the time of Luther, and the third at a period somewhat later.
As proof that these angels belong to the future age, the fact is adduced that
John saw them flying through the midst of heaven immediately after having seen
the Lamb stand upon mount Zion with the 144,000. As the latter event is future, it
is concluded by some that the angels of this prophecy must be future also. If it
were a fact that the events predicted in the book of Revelation were there given
in consecutive order, there would be some force to this argument. But it is
evident that that book is made up of many distinct views, usually introduced by
the expression, "And I saw," or something of that kind, as in Rev. xiv, 6. The
series of events, which begins in chapter xii, with the dragon, evidently extends
through the work of the beasts in chapter xiii, and ends with a view of the
remnant in their glorified state [Rev. xiv, 1-5] upon mount Zion. Then begins a
new series of events with the angel of chapter xiv, 6.
The following reasons forbid the application of this prophecy to the future age:
1. This view would make the angel with the everlasting gospel to every nation,
kindred and tongue,
5
an angel from heaven with another gospel. Gal. i, 8. For the apostolic
commission extended only to the harvest, which is the end of the world. Matt.
xxviii, 19, 20; xxiv, 14; xiii, 24-30, 36-43. Paul participated in this commission, [1
Tim. i, 11,] and he thus declares its import: that God "now commandeth all men
everywhere to repent; because he hath appointed a day in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness." Acts xvii, 30, 31. The apostolic commission
extended only to the end-the day in which God shall judge the world by Jesus
Christ. A gospel preached in that day, would be another gospel than that
preached by Paul, and one that has no Saviour in it. This would indeed show that
the angel of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, was the very being on whom rests the curse of Paul in
Gal. i, 8.
2. The second angel announces the fall of Babylon. Verse 8. After this
proclamation a voice is heard from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my
people." Rev. xviii, 1-4. Now that the absurdity of placing this transaction after th
