Context No. 3294 of 4322 · Revelation

Revelation 14:6-11: in context

6I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!” 8Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.” 9Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

In the midst of judgment, John sees an angel flying overhead with an eternal gospel to proclaim to every nation, tribe, language, and people. And its heart is a call to worship: fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.

Even amid warnings of judgment, the everlasting good news comes down to this: turn from every false object of worship and worship the Creator himself. The choice running through Revelation is a choice of worship, the Creator or the beast, and the angel calls the whole earth back to the one worship that is right and true, worship of the God who made all things. Judgment and gospel meet in a single summons. To fear God and give him glory is not one option among many but the fitting response of every creature to the one who made heaven and earth and sea.

Whom do I truly worship, the Creator who made all things, or lesser things that draw my devotion, and does the good news call me back to him alone?

Sources

Revelation 14:7: "Fear the Lord, and give him glory... Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"
Revelation 14:6: "Having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language, and people."
Exodus 20:3: "You shall have no other gods before me."