Chap . 20 - A Great Religious Awakening
A Great religious awakening under the proclamation of Christ ’ s soon coming is foretold in the prophecy of the first angel ’ s message of Revelation 14 . An angel is seen flying “ in the midst of heaven , having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth , and to every nation , and kindred , and tongue , and people .” “ With a loud voice ” he proclaims the message : “ Fear God , and give glory to Him ; for the hour of His judgment is come : and worship Him that made heaven , and earth , and the sea , and the fountains of waters .” Verses 6 , 7 .
The fact that an angel is said to be the herald of this warning is significant . By the purity , the glory , and the power of the heavenly messenger , divine wisdom has been pleased to represent the exalted character of the work to be accomplished by the message and the power and glory that were to attend it . And the angel ’ s flight “ in the midst of heaven ,” the “ loud voice ” with which the warning is uttered , and its promulgation to all “ that dwell on the earth ,”—“ to every nation , and kindred , and tongue , and people ,”— give evidence of the rapidity and world-wide extent of the movement .
The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place . It is declared to be a part of the “ everlasting gospel ;” and it announces the opening of the
355