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6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He 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!"
I saw an [another] angel flying in mid heaven
This is possibly the first of a set of 7 angels in a sequence found from here through chapter 18. These first three angels may parallel 3 sets of 7 that involve repeated outpourings of light beginning with the opening of the seals. This is followed up with increasing intensity by 7 trumpets and finally culminating with the 7 bowls. Based on this pattern, this first angel would parallel the first set of 7's - the unsealing of the Seals. (see list and chart of all the 7's compiled from Revelation)
There may be another pattern here that possibly carries even more significance that may be worth considering. It relates to an announcement injected before the beginning – and is repeated during – the last three trumpets. This could indicate that these three angels we are about to focus on, are counterparts or relevant responses, to the content of the last 3 angels with their trumpet messages.
I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)
I have compiled a comparison chart to test this idea, and while it is not completely convincing, it does expose compelling attributes that makes it worth considering, at least from my perspective.
This proposed interpretation is enhanced by the meaning of the word here in chapter 14 rendered as another in reference to this first angel. It would seem confusing to some as to why John would use this word to start a new sequence of 3 angels with their cluster of closely-related messages. Yet in this case, based on the context, this word could have important implications.
The word translated 'another' is defined this way by Strong's concordance.
Allos - a primary word; "else," i.e. different:--more, one (another), other(-s, -wise).
While this implies that this messenger is in addition to others already mentioned, given the fact that the next two angels are referenced as starting from this specific angel and message, it would seem to indicate that this angel is distinct or unique in some way that separates it from all the previous angels mentioned. This angel could be like hitting a reset button on the angel counter.
Another, a second angel, followed, saying... Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice... (Revelation 14:8-9)
The way the next two angels are referenced makes it explicitly clear that this angel is the first of a series, despite the fact that it is referred as another. So again, what might make this angel different from previous angels already mentioned to set it apart as the first of a series of at least 3 or even 7 angels?
What has just been presented previous to this verse? There has been an involved description we have been studying for weeks about a group of people on earth known as the 144,000. Of particular note, this group of people are unique from others because they sing a New Song and follow the Lamb wherever He goes, something almost unheard of about any other group of people previously described. So what is so new about this Song, and what makes it new? We spent a great deal of time unpacking the newness of this Song, so given our enhanced awareness of the unique nature of this Song, we should now immediately recognize that the message of this first angel in particular corresponds exactly to the parameters that define what makes this Song New and different.
I see this as an important aspect of the meaning of the word another in reference to this angel. It means different, and that could alert us that this angel is presenting something so new and different as to cause this angel to stand out from everything we have heard from angels up to this point. This powerful message is in fact the message (1 John 1:5) that has transformed this elite group of Lamb-followers into glowing reflectors of His glory and expert musicians of His kind of music. This is what makes them so different from any other group of believers previous, for their advanced reflection of the truth about God's glory has ripened their hearts to become first fruits who are now in sync with the very first Fruit – the Son of Man. He was the first human to fully mature the fruit of the likeness of God's heart, reflecting His selfless love in a human body, mind, soul and spirit. And He accomplished this while living among us here on this diseased and wicked planet.
This is the Lamb these people emulate, admire and follow tenaciously. And just as their song is startling different than any other version of praise heard previously offered up to God, so too is the message of this angel the very essence of what is being sung and transmitted through the lives and witness of these people who have allowed the Lamb and the Spirit to transform them into the same image and likeness of God's heart just like the Lamb they follow.
The message of this angel we are about to study, is really a continuation of the description just given of people who follow the Lamb and enjoy His style of love songs. If we will take this first message seriously and allow it to have its intended impact in our hearts and lives, it will transform us just as what was described in the previous verses, and there would be no need for the following, increasingly shrill warnings of the next two angels. The entire content of saving, healing, restorative truth needed to reset us back into living in joy of perfect synchronization with God's heart of passionate love, is encapsulated in the succinct and totally positive message of this first angel. That is what makes this angel unique from the previous messages presented in that it calls us back to focusing only on the goodness and glory of God's true character as the focal point of existence. The only thoughts worth circulating in our imagination, the only fascination that should capture our heart, the only love worth pursuing passionately until it consumes every other distraction is all in this message.
having an eternal Good News [the eternal gospel] to proclaim
You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Don't be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold, your God!" (Isaiah 40:9)
But Israel shall be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation: you shall not be disappointed nor confounded world without end. (Isaiah 45:17)
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! (Isaiah 52:7)
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. (Luke 2:9-10)
For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)
Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news"; and there isn't another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12)
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him; in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation,--in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:9-14)
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News, which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; (Colossians 1:3-6)
yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him, if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. (Colossians 1:22-23)
We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)
But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth; to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)
For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
those who dwell on the earth
We will pass on reviewing this, given we have explored it a number of times in this study.
with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord
The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)
Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:4)
A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!" (Revelation 19:5)
They said to Moses, "Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let God speak with us, lest we die." Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin." (Exodus 20:19-20)
Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes. Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem. He charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. (2 Chronicles 19:7-9)
Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! (Psalms 31:19)
