Number 218, page 264. We're going to commence with this 218. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates. Behold, the King of glory waits. The King of kings is drawing near. The Savior of the world is here. Life and salvation doth he bring. Wherefore, rejoice and gladly sing. It's based upon Psalm 24 in those words. that you have there, the 9th verse. 218, we're standing as we sing. ♪ The pure flesh in all its beauty is ♪ ♪ Behold the King of glory reigns ♪ ♪ The King of kings is calling thee ♪ ♪ And consolation proudly bring ♪ ♪ Where for it's voice the proud we sing ♪ ♪ The Lord is just and ever true ♪ ♪ Turn around and sigh ♪ ♪ His weakling blood, his lowliness ♪ ♪ His heavenly grace ♪ O come, O come, O come, O come, O come, O come, to Bethlehem. ♪ Where Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ Early is confessed ♪ ♪ All happy hearts and happy voices ♪ ♪ Dead have they slain ♪ May triumph rise, the glorious song of joyful years, till we ♪ May we until hope's trail depart ♪ ♪ Father, please your names employ ♪ ♪ Adore with me the God of joy ♪ ♪ So shall your song re-enter in ♪ life within. Redeemer, come, we open wide. Our hearts to Thee, Thy grace unborn, in us we live. Thy holy spirit guide us all, until that glorious dawn is over. Amen. Our gracious God and our eternal Heavenly Father, we draw near this night into Thy holy presence. We do so in the name of the Redeemer. We thank Thee for the one who left heaven's glory. John saw as it were a door opened in heaven. And Lord, we are reminded of one who left heaven, who came down to this sin-cursed world with the purpose of outworking redemption. He came for no other reason than that He might give Himself as a sacrifice for sin. And this evening, we come to rejoice. We thank Thee that He came to earth. He accomplished redemption. He has returned to glory. He has entered in again into His Father's presence. And He is seated at Thy right hand. He ever lives, a Prince and a Savior. And we rejoice this night, O God, in so great salvation, We know that heaven rejoiced. We've been singing part of that psalm that calls upon those gates to open wide and welcome the victor in. And we thank Thee that Christ did return victorious, that He came to battle Satan and sin and death and hell. We rejoice, O Lord, that He went down into death to rob death of its power and to defeat the grave. He crushed the head of the serpent at the cross. We praise Thee that He has put away sin, and tonight He wears the victor's crown. He's crowned with many crowns. We bless Thee, O Lord, for what our Savior has done on our behalf. We bless Thee, too, for each one who can testify that they have received this so great salvation and welcomed this Savior in. We have been singing about throwing open those portals of our hearts, and, Lord, there has to be that opening up to Him. He stands at the door and knocks, and if any man will open, He will come in and sup with them. And Lord, we thank Thee that there is a Savior who's willing to save tonight. We rejoice in that. We still live in gospel days, and we pray that Thou will bless the preaching of the gospel even tonight in many a place. Thy truth will be sounded forth Lord, though we lament places where there is no gospel preached and a false gospel is preached, yet we're thankful it's still here and there, Lord. The gospel of saving grace will be preached. Christ will be uplifted. There is still a remnant in this land and nation. And we pray that Thou will be pleased to bless the going forth of Thy Word. O Lord, we believe that this is the means that will turn a nation unto Thee. It is the preaching of Christ, the preaching of the gospel. It is men and women turning from sin to Jesus Christ. Lord, it is not some outward reformation, some change that's merely on the surface that is needed. It's not changing appearance in that sense or turning over a new leaf in life. Lord, we realize that it is a work of regeneration in the heart that is needed. And we pray, Lord, for regeneration, for hearts that are changed, for redemption that is so deep that it changes the very nature of our being, makes us the children of God. And we pray that Thou will so bless this night. Save amongst us, Lord. We pray that Thy power might be known in this meeting, in our families, in this neighborhood, O Father, may we labor for souls to be saved. May that be the one thing that motivates us. Give us a passion for souls, an all-consuming passion for the lost. We pray, Lord, that we would be troubled about souls going down to hell. that we would not pass by on the other side indifferent, unconcerned, going on about our business from day to day and week to week. And Lord, we pray thou might see souls who are perishing, those that are gripped by sin and the devil. And Lord, where there's one, only one who can deliver them, and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may we labor for the salvation of others. O Lord, make that our primary purpose for living, that we will seek the salvation of others, those that are near and dear to us. But others, Lord, there's many around us, and in a sense, they're strangers to us. We may know some of them by even just appearance. We do not know names, but, Lord, they have souls. And we pray that, O Lord, have mercy. We think of outreach that has been done in this neighborhood, this community. Think of the mission that was held down in Ballyduff back in the springtime, and invitations that went out, even double invitations that went into homes. Oh, Father, we look to Thee yet for a harvest. We think of the sowing that has gone on for years and years in the Bible club and Sabbath school. Lord, let there be a harvest that will come from that that has said, cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall return unto thee after many days. And Lord, we know that it is an incorruptible seed, and we may even have forgotten individuals and faces who sat under the sound of thy word. in meetings, Sabbath school, or Bible club. Yet, Lord, my word tonight can be lying dormant in a heart, and we pray that Thou would water that seed, cause it to germinate, O Lord. Bring forth the fruit of repentance, we ask. O Lord, this is not beyond Thee. We are not praying for something that is impossible. Lord, with Thee, this is possible, gloriously possible. And we ask, Lord, that Thou would have mercy. I think even of family members brought up in the gospel, and tonight they are not in the house of God. They're away from Thee, pursuing the things of the world. Lord, have mercy on them. Bring to their remembrance the things of God. May they even be reminded that there are family members in the house of God tonight, and they are not. Lord, Thou art able. We pray that Thou will step across the path of those out of Christ. Lord, bring a crisis point. Bring them to a crisis point. Bring them to the point where they must decide for Christ. They must cry to Him for mercy. Lord, look upon us. Give genuine conversions, we ask. Remember us all. Let us know every need amongst us. We pray that Thou will bless. There's those that have been laid aside, minister to them, strengthen them, raise them up. We pray, bring them back amongst us. There's some, Lord, who are not able to be out at present, maybe not very much at all at present times. We ask that Thou will do them good. In their own home, some are able to tune in to the live stream. Grant them Thy blessing. Lord, just draw near, we pray. Give them a sense that they are not forgotten, that the Lord knows them, and the Lord remembers them, and Lord, help us to remember them as well in prayer. So tarry with us now this evening as we continue on before Thee. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. Just over a few pages from where we were there, 2, 3, 6, is going to be our offering hymn in a moment, Out of Christ, Without a Savior, Who Can and Cannot Be, 236. And while you're turning it up, we bid you welcome each one in the Savior's name. We're glad to see you tonight. And those who are tuning in online, we welcome you also. And pray the Lord will bless the live stream as it goes out as well. Do remember this incoming week, brethren, there's a church committee meeting tomorrow night, 7.30, we're gathering. If you can remember that, please. And then Wednesday night is our midweek meeting, prayer meeting and Bible study. And then Friday night, Bible club. And I mentioned about how that is going to change the night. Once we get into December, that's going to change to a Tuesday night. So do remember that. Please pray about that, that the Lord will bless that change and that it will be more suitable and numbers would increase in the Bible club. Friday night as well the late night men's prayer meeting 10.30 that will be taking place. Next Lord's Day there are the extended times of prayer. We'll be gathering For those, 9.30 to 11.00 is the first one. And you know the format. I'll put it back up again on WhatsApp. But that is the regular format now for the last Lord's Day of the month. Sabbath school is at 10.00 AM. The service is 11.30 and 7.00. There will be the time of favorite hymn singing before the evening service, quarter to seven, 10 to seven. you'll have the opportunity to choose some favorite hymns as well next Lord's Day. I'll be preaching, God willing, at those meetings. We do want to acknowledge those gifts that have come in for school. We appreciate that very much. There's always a steady stream of gifts that come in, and we're so thankful for that, right from £40 through to £1,000 that have come in. over the last week or so. So a word of thanks to all who have the work of the school at heart and do support it in that particular way. There are extra Let the Bible Speak calendars. If you want one of those, we did get two because they were ordered extra, but there's three extra that were come there that are on the table. So if you're interested in one of those, you can take that, put your name on the list and you can pay at a later time. The Senior Citizens' Meal as well, that has been arranged for, well, Saturday the 3rd is the preferred date to start with. And we're asking you to put your name down, please, if you would. There's some did that this morning. But if you could do that tonight, it'll give me a better idea of numbers. And are we going for Saturday the 3rd if it doesn't suit some, and the 10th suits better? Although all the names that have put down have said either suits. So as I say, the preferred date is Saturday the 3rd of January. is what we're going for. So please, if you would, if you fall into that category, will you please put your name down there tonight? There's going to be outside caterers that are going to be doing it this time, so that'll be a little different. But remember that, please, if you would, on leaving the meeting tonight. There is an SJAT meeting Thursday night that's taking place over in Lisbon. Reverend Daniel Henderson is preaching at that meeting. It's at 8pm. You're welcome to attend. And that he's preaching in Revelation chapter 20. Thursday night at that meeting. There are some school functions that are coming up. There's a shopping evening that has been arranged for Thursday, the 4th of December, 6 to 9 p.m. I put this up on WhatsApp as well, so you'll have it. School open night will be Friday, the 12th of December, from 4.30 through to 7 p.m., so remember those as well. Some youth events. This Saturday night, there's a Bible study. young people, that's over in Mount Marion, that's starting at 8pm. And then the training weekend, the 23rd to the 25th of January, that will be taking place. £95 that will be. And as far as I remember, the application form should be on the Youth Council website. So if you want to go there, you need to fill that in. Some of you have been there on that and you know the format. So if you're interested in attending, that is what you need to do. I think that's everything by way of announcements. They're all in the will of the Lord. 236 then, out of Christ without a savior. Oh, can it, can it be? Like a ship without a rudder on a wild and stormy sea. Oh, to be without a savior with no hope nor refuge. Nay, can it be? Oh, blessed savior, one without the dares to die. 236. We're keeping our seats for the opening verses. I am Christ, the God, the Savior, all-loving, loving King. I am the ship. O tell me, will I not save you with all my heart? Praise, O Light, the home of Jesus, made in Christ the Shearer's name. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen. That's down for verses four and five. Lord to God, our song surrounding, Lord to Christ, for ever speaking, Lord to Thee, my God, all saving, friend of all, our every child. Risen by your Lord and Lord alone. We're turning to Revelation chapter 17 to read. And then we're turning back to Revelation chapter 14 as well, but we're going to read Revelation chapter 17 through, beginning from verse 1. And then we're coming back, as I say, to chapter 14, verse 6, and picking up some verses there. But there is a connection. So, Revelation chapter 17, and we're reading from verse 1. Revelation chapter 17, verse 1, And there came one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman set upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns, And the woman was a red and purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones, and perils, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, the abomination of the earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration, And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains in which the woman sitteth, and there are seven kings. Five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come. And when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seventh, and goeth into perdition. The ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful, And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled. the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. " And then if you go back to chapter 14, and from verse 6, we're going to read just a few verses here, down to verse 11. So chapter 14 now in verse 6, And I saw another angel fly 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, saying with a loud voice, 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 water. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever. And they have no rest, day nor night, who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. " Amen. We'll end there. We know the Lord will add His blessing to the reading of His Word. this night to all of our hearts. We're going to bow together in prayer and ask the Lord for His blessing. Our Father, we look to Thee to bless Thy word that we have read, and now we ask Thee for help as we come to understand it and apply it to our own lives and circumstances, to these days in which we live in. Lord, there is a word in these verses tonight for us, for each one of us. And we pray that Thy Word will come with power to our hearts. Grant help to that end. Help to hear and receive Thy Word. I need that added help to preach. Oh, grant that. We humbly pray. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. This 14th chapter of the book of the Revelation divides into three parts. We have been looking at the first part, verses 1 to 5, that tells us there about the appearance of the Lamb on Mount Zion with that 140 and 4,000 who were redeemed from the earth alongside Him. And then secondly, which is what we want to come to think about this evening, there is the preaching of the three angelic creatures. Begins there, verse 13, really runs through those verses that I have read this evening in this particular chapter. And then the latter part of the chapter deals with the Son of Man and the harvest of the earth. Now, these all are around the one time period, and these really bring us to the coming of the Lord. We were thinking about that with regards to the 144,000, that they are those who rise when Christ comes, and they are called the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb there in verse 4. So these things are all taking place at the same time, at the time when the Savior comes. And that carries on as well into what we want to consider this evening, these three angelic creatures that come to preach. And before we think about particulars here and look at them each one, the three messages that they bring to the earth, I want you to think a little bit about a few general points, first of all, because this must be an unusual time that is even yet future, for angels do not normally preach in this age. You can think about that for a moment. That's very clearly illustrated in the case of Peter and Cornelius, that angels do not preach in this age. Because remember how the Lord sent an angel to Cornelius to tell him his prayer was heard, and he was to send to Joppa and find Peter and bring Peter, and Peter would tell him words whereby he could be saved. Why did the angel not preach? Why did the angel not tell him the gospel? The angels look into the gospel. That's even illustrated in the Ark of the Covenant, and those cherubims with their faces inward and downward, and how Peter himself, later on in his writings, speaks about that which the angels desired to look into. So the angels are interested in redemption. They know about redemption. They could tell redemption story, but they don't. It is not their lot to preach the gospel. And it is very striking there in the Acts of the Apostles that the Lord sends an angel from heaven to Cornelius, but doesn't permit that angel to preach the gospel to him. That's what Cornelius needed, and that's what he was waiting on. And later on, Peter did come, and Peter did preach, and Cornelius and his house believed on the Lord, and there was the opening of the door to the Gentiles. But is it not striking the angel did not preach and was not permitted to preach. And yet, when we come now to these verses here in this 14th chapter, beginning here at verse 6, we find three angelic creatures who are sent to preach, who are permitted to preach to those that are on the earth, and have got a message to preach as well. So this is indeed interesting times that we come to think about here. And I would suggest to you that they are just immediately prior to the coming of the Lord, as we will come to see when we think about their individual messages. The manner of preaching as well is very different. What a contrast from the entreaty, as Paul called himself, an ambassador of Christ, representing Christ, pleading with men, beseeching men and women to be reconciled unto God. And when we come to this chapter, and when you think about these angels, and the fact that it is mentioned there, starting at verse 6, and also a second time as well, that they preach with a loud voice. And what is that voice like? We'll go back up to verse 2, and it's a voice like thunder. There's a different tone here. that is set before us when we come to these verses. Different tone entirely to the preaching. Instead of that beseeching tone that is to be in the gospel, pleading with men and women, here's angelic creatures that come forth, and they're going to preach, and it's going to be thunder. It's going to be a voice like a voice like thunder, thundering through the nations and bringing to them the message of God. And one other general point I would suggest that we ought to keep in mind from chapter 11, and that is the death of those two end-time witnesses. The beast did prevail against those two end-time witnesses. But what is God going to do? He's going to send witnesses that cannot be put to death. Those two end-time witnesses had responsibilities and duties and preached. and they were immortal until their preaching was done, but as we know, they were slain. They did rise and go up into heaven, but what's the Lord's answer? Is it defeat? Is that the impression that the Antichrist and his hordes of supporters will go away with, that they have defeated God? No. The Lord's going to send an angelic witness, three angelic creatures. They're going to thunder. There is going to be no rejoicing to any great extent, and that which they do is going to be very much short-lived. The word angel, as it appears here in these verses that we have read from chapter 14, means messenger. The New Testament word has virtually come over directly into the English language. We get the word angel from the New Testament language. It's angelos. is the New Testament word for angel. So you can see how almost identically that has come over into our English language. So we talk about an angel. But what is an angel? An angel is a messenger. That's what the word means. In fact, it's a compound word, and it means a messenger. One sent forth to bring tidings is the idea that is here. So here is messengers from heaven sent forth with a message. This is their purpose. And when you think about the purpose of angels in this age normally compared to what they are going to do at this particular time, because Hebrews, for example, tells us that angels now are sent forth to minister to them who are the heirs of salvation. You and I who are redeemed tonight are the subjects of the ministry of angels." That's what God has said in His Word. Angels are sent forth to this world unseen by us. Angels may well have ministered unto us this day. unseen by us, unseen by the physical eye, but they minister. They come to and fro from this world and the heavenly world. And it's Hebrews 1.14, if you want the reference, that tells us that the angels are set forth to minister to them who are the heirs of salvation. So this is their normal task. But here's a different task that is given to them. They're going to come forth, and they're going to thunder. They're going to thunder to those who know not the Lord. Their message is directed to those who know not Christ, who honor not Christ. That's going to be their audience, as we will see here now as we come to think about these individual messages. So let's come then to the first one, verses 6 and 7, the first message of this first messenger. And we can title this, One Final Call to Repentance. One Final Call to Repentance. Remember, God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. And Ezekiel, without turning up those verses, tells us that he would rather they turn. And here is one final call. to a world that has turned against the Lord and defied Him and who is following after Antichrist. And there is a message, an angelic message that comes to this world from God, and it's calling them to repentance one final last time. We read there in verse 6 about the angel flying in the midst of heaven and having in his possession the everlasting gospel. There is but one gospel. There are not many. There are various names for that one gospel, whether we call it the everlasting gospel, whether we call it the gospel of the kingdom, or the gospel of the grace of God, or the gospel of Christ. There's various terms that are found in the New Testament for the gospel. There is but one gospel. There is but one way for sinners to be redeemed, whether it's able, Adam, right at the very beginning, or whether it's an individual today, right down to the end of time itself. There are not different ways to come to Christ. There are not different ways to get to heaven. And I know there are those who say that, for example, the gospel that Jesus Christ preached was a different gospel to that preached by Paul. That is a complete Denial of the Bible, in my opinion, and in our opinion as a church and what we hold to in reformed religion, there is but one gospel, one gospel only. And that is the gospel of saving grace. And here, this angel has in its possession the everlasting gospel. And it says that the purpose of having this gospel in its possession is to preach, verse 6, preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying. So this everlasting gospel is given to an angel. As I say, angels have not preached in this age. When we think about Peter and Cornelius. Angels have not preached, but here into their possession or into this one angel's possession is given the everlasting gospel, and he is told, go and preach this to the earth. Preach it to the inhabitants of the earth. If you go back to the previous chapter and notice the terms that are used there at the end of verse 6, and if you look at the terms that appear in verse 7 of chapter 13, Antichrist's kingdom is here in mind. In chapter 13, verse 7, it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and power was given him over all kindreds, tongues, and nations. then we come into chapter 14 and verse 6, and we find there is an angel that has been given the gospel and this command to go forth and to preach to these same nations, this everlasting gospel, this unchanging gospel. Is that not what is suggested in that term, everlasting? The everlasting God changes not. The everlasting gospel does not change. The gospel is the same. It's the way of the shed blood. It's redemption through the blood of atonement of Jesus Christ. And whether it was Abel coming with his lamb at the very beginning there of time, or whether it's you and I today, or some future day, there is but one way of salvation. It is that same message that has been preached down through the history of the world. And what the Lord is here doing, is giving one final opportunity for souls to repent and to believe. We have the words in verse 7 that this angel is going to preach, fear God, give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him that made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water. It's a message tailored for the day. Because this is what is going to happen. There are those who are going to defy God, not fear God. There are those who are facing judgment. The Lord is about to appear, and He's coming in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God. The hour of judgment is about to come. So therefore, it's a message that is indeed tailored for that day. And they are told to worship Him, because it tells us that they're worshiping the beast. They're honoring the beast, or at least they're those who are under his sway to some degree. And the message comes tailored to that day, but it is the everlasting gospel that there needs to be a turning to the Lord, a forsaking of their defiance of God. Well, in a sense, that is a message tailored for every day, because the sinner today defies God. There's a stubbornness in the human heart today. We all were marked by that in our own saved condition, and we all could testify to that. If you were asked to testify, I'm sure somewhere along the line you will say that, oh, there was a stubbornness against the gospel. How many times did we not hear the gospel before we were converted? There's a stubbornness in the human heart, but in this particular time, just prior to the coming of the Lord, that spirit of defiance and stubbornness is going to be at its zenith. And there is a message that comes. Isn't it interesting that it has to do with recognizing God as Creator? It says, worship Him that made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountain of water. We started out thinking about the book that had the seven seals. And we said back then that the Lord was coming to claim His possession. He owns the earth. That Psalm that we were singing, a hymn based on it, has in it those words, the earth belongs to the Lord and the fullness thereof. The Lord has possession of the earth. It is His possession. But those creatures in the earth that He has put have rebelled against Him, and they're going to recognize another. But the cry has come back and recognized the Creator. Recognize the one who made this world, and who sustains it, and the one who's about to come in judgment. So what you have here is one final call to repentance, one final call. There's hymns that go along that line, one final call. That can happen, not just at the end of time or at the end of the age here, but that can happen in an individual's life. One final call. God can call for one final time. My spirit shall not always strive with man, the Lord tells us. The Lord can call one final time, and that's it. He'll never call again. And somebody could live on after that but never hear the voice of the Lord. God can call one final time. Onto the second message then, and it has to do with the fall of Babylon. If we come there to verse 8, And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. This is the first time that Babylon is mentioned in the book of the Revelation. Now we read chapter 17, and you could read chapter 18 as well. It's two chapters particularly that deal with the subject of Babylon. We'll get there eventually, God willing, at some stage. But here's the first mention of something that becomes very conspicuous in this book, Babylon. As I say, there's fuller chapters. But here, if we think about that The timing is just prior to the coming of the Lord, and that's what you have in chapter 17, and particularly 18 as well. There is this cry that's going to go out, this angelic creature who's going to come announcing, Babylon has fallen. All their hopes have fallen, come crashing down to the ground. That's going to be the cry of the angelic messenger. All your hopes have come crashing down. And how very true that is of any who are unconverted. It matters not what hopes they have or what achievements they have in this world. They're going to come crashing down sooner or later. Their hopes are going to be found to be a refuge of lies. And can you imagine what this will mean, that there's this cry that's going to go out, an angelic cry? Babylon has fallen. That great city has fallen. Now, there is a description there associated with her in verse 8 of Revelation chapter 14. She's characterized by greatness, by greatness. She's called a great city there in verse 8. And as a result of her greatness, she has so deluded and corrupted those in the earth that it is described here in the Scriptures as being drunk with the wine of her fornication. That's how the Bible describes it. She's going to exercise such an influence upon many, many individuals in the world. That's how it's described. They're drunk with the wine of her fornication. They're intoxicated. They're just so taken up and taken in with this. They're going to follow. They're going to follow that evil system. It tells you there that at this stage, it is a city. Turn over to Revelation chapter 17. This is one of the reasons why I did read that chapter. And come down to the last few verses of that chapter for a moment. Because there is Babylon mystical, there is Babylon material. Babylon mystical is in Revelation chapter 17. You have that verse 5, mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, the abomination of the earth. So there is mystery, Babylon. But then when we get into, well, even when we get to the end of chapter 17, we discover here that the emphasis morphs into that of a city. The very last verse, it says, the woman, Revelation 17, verse 18, the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. And then when you go into chapter 18, well, you find that same cry repeated here. in Revelation 18 verse 2, Babylon the great is fallen is fallen, but Revelation 18 is Babylon material. It's a city, a prosperous city, a very prosperous city. It's going to trade the merchants of the earth with her fall, are going to lament. But without preempting what we're going to say when we get to Revelation 17 and 18, There is one particular point I want you to notice and keep in mind at this particular time, because Babylon mystical is consumed by Babylon material. If you look at the last few verses there of chapter 17, beginning at verse 16, so Revelation chapter 17, verse 16, the 10 horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore. and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it in their heart to fulfill as well, to agree and give their kingdoms unto the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled." So the initial picture, when you go back to this chart of chapter 17, is the woman riding the beast. She's the one that seems to be more prominent. But there comes a time when the beast is going to turn on her and the 10 kings, and they're going to eat her and destroy her and consume her. So Babylon mystical is consumed and morphs into Babylon material. The emphasis is on a city there. that's going to happen prior to the coming of the Lord. And if you come back now to Revelation chapter 14 and verse 8, we have got to that stage where Babylon mystical has been consumed, and Babylon material is to the fore, because the cry of these angelic creatures is, Babylon has fallen, has fallen that great city. He's not talking about the woman now that raids the beast. The beast has destroyed the woman and eaten her, consumed her, It's a city that is to the fore. And you have that in Revelation 18. And there's more details that are given there. And we'll come there, as I say, at a particular time. But here's a message of judgment that is coming. Here's a message of judgment that is coming. The hour of judgment comes with the work of judgment. That colossal system of harlotry and corruption that will dominate the nations prior to His coming will be brought down. And though the nations have drunk of the wine of her fornication, they're also going to drink of the wrath of her fornication. There's wrath. We were talking about that this morning a little bit. There's always a consequence for sin. There's always a consequence for defying God. And here's a people, here's a time of great defiance against the Lord, and there is judgment that is coming. There is judgment. There's a cause. If you look at Revelation chapter 14 and verse 8, the word because appears. So the judgment that is going to fall upon Babylon is because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. She was actually giving them, not that which was going to do them good, but that which was going to do them harm. When she was exercising this influence, this ungodly influence, this corrupting influence, this wicked, immoral influence upon the nations, this system of Babylon, was not actually handing out something that was for the good of nations. She was actually handing out a cup of wrath. And all who partake of the wine of her fornication are going to discover that it's actually wrath that's in the cup. It's not pleasure. Oh, they thought it was pleasure. They thought it was the greatest time of commerce and revelry and prosperity and freedom to live like you want. That's what they thought was in the cup, but in reality, it was a cup of wrath. And this angel is being sent to the earth to declare that. Babylon is fallen. All your hopes have come crashing down, and there is a cause that is given because it was a cup of wrath that she was handing out, filled with the wrath of God against her own fornication. Why is this warning given? Well, if you go over there to Revelation chapter 18, look at verse 4. In fact, it may well be, although I'm not going to be emphatic about the point, it may be that what we're thinking about in chapter 14 is actually here set forth in verse 4 of chapter 18. There's a cry that goes up. I heard another voice from heaven saying, So, this isn't a preacher on earth. This isn't an earthly preacher that is saying this. John says, I heard this cry from heaven. It was a heavenly cry. It was an angelic cry. It may well be that. And what does it say there in Revelation 18, 4? Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues. Is that the reason why there is this cry that comes, Babylon has fallen? In a sense, the cry is preemptive. It's about to fall. Oftentimes, the Scripture speaks of events, both the first coming of the Lord and the second coming of the Lord, as in the completed tense. So, we can read Revelation 14, verse 8, and say, oh, but it's passed. Well, yes, the language may be in the completed tense, but it is often a practice in Scripture, if you look at it, that it is expressed in that way because it is certain. There is no doubt about this. And it seems to be, but here is a proclamation about what is just about to happen. Babylon is about to fall. Their hopes are about to come crashing down. And why is the Lord being pleased to send an angel with a warning? Because Revelation 18 and 4 tells us, There is going to be a voice from heaven that says, come out of her, my people. God will have a people on the earth to the very end. And amazingly, some of his people will be tied up with that wicked system that you have in Revelation 17 and 18. There will be those that are involved in it. And here the cry comes out, come, come out of her. Forsake her. She's about to be destroyed. The judgment of God is about to fall upon Babel. Come out of her. Forsake her, lest you receive of her plagues. So again, you can see how that ties in with what we thought about the first angelic messenger. One last opportunity to repent. One final warning about judgment that's coming is what you have here in Revelation 14 and verse 8. Let's hasten on to the third message. And it begins there in verse 9, the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. And what you have here is the reality. It's too late for many. It's too late for many. That's what this angel is going to declare. Because every single individual who has received the mark of the beast, or who has worshipped the beast, there in verse 9, are already doomed. They are already destined for God's judgment. So the warning, the last warning to repent, and the last warning too about judgment that is about to fall on that system of Babylon that is mentioned in chapter 17 and 18, excludes those who have already taken the mark of the beast. and who have already worshipped the beast, because it clearly says here in verses 9, 10, and 11 that any who take the mark are doomed. It says, the same shall drink, verse 10, of the wrath of God. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone. The smoke Verse 11, "'Of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.'" So it's too late for many, for all who have taken the mark of the beast. Now, the warning has already been sounded, because this is not the first time that this has been mentioned. If you go back into Revelation chapter 13, And the closing verse is there. It tells you about that mark and those that will take it. And if you do not take it, you will be killed. Beginning there at verse 14, Revelation 13, verse 14, and down to verse 18, covers this matter. But there's also a warning that sits alongside that. Take the mark of the beast and you're doomed. Take His mark upon you, either in your hand or your forehead. Worship the beast. Never mind the mark. Worship the beast, and you're doomed. That's what the message of this angel is going to be. It's too late for many. How true that is tonight in a lost eternity, it's too late for many. Too late for many. Many who heard the gospel, but it's too late for them. They missed opportunity. They went on in their sin. They died unconverted. They're lost forever. They're facing eternal judgment. It's too late for many. There's many in hell tonight. Many in hell. The Lord Jesus said, many find that broad way. They enter in at the wide gate. They join the broad way. It says, many there be that go in there at. There's many tonight. who are already in hell, and it's too late for them. There's going to be those on earth as well, and it's going to be too late for them, too. Just prior to the Lord coming in judgment, their doom is already sealed, because they've worshiped the beast and taken his mark. In order to participate in that system, if you look at some of those words that are found there in verse 10 and 11. It speaks there about the nature of the recompense. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation. Undiluted wrath, untempered wrath. You see, any wrath that God shows in the world up until that point in time is diluted, is tempered. It's always tempered with mercy. always tempered with mercy. Even those great examples of judgment that came upon the world, the flood with Sodom and Gomorrah, those that are held up as warnings to humankind, they always were tempered with mercy to some degree. But there's coming a day when it's undiluted, untempered wrath, no mercy, no mercy. Look at the manner of it in verse 10, tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. What must the end be of individuals who go out into a lost eternity, conscious that they could have been saved, that they could have come to Christ? Surely that must make hell all the worse, to be in hell and to think, I could have come to Christ. I heard the gospel. The duration of it is mentioned there. The smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever. The restlessness of this recompense is there in verse 11. They have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. No rest. Hell is a restless place. You think about the account the Lord gave. It is not a parable in Luke 16, the rich man and Lazarus. That is not a parable. If it is, you'd have to explain away the literal fire in hell then as being parabolic. But the rich man in hell was restless. He was restless in hell. He cried out. Lazarus would be sent to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue, just a little drop, just a little drop. Talk about a restless man in hell. Well, here's restlessness in hell when God's judgment falls and it tells you there that they rest day nor night. There is no rest. It's one thing that we need in this world is rest. You go 24 hours without rest. It'll start to tell long before that, maybe it'll start to tell in your body. But what about restlessness day after day, night after night? 24 hours a day, seven days a week in hell. Restlessness. Is it any wonder it describes hell as a torment there? In verse 11, the smoke of their torment ascended forever and ever. It is torment. It is torment. Too late for many. I trust it's not too late for you tonight who are unsaved. There is an opportunity tonight to come to Christ. Which mark is it better to have? The mark of the beast that will bring doom here that we're thinking about, or that mark that is mentioned back there at the start of chapter 14, written on their foreheads, the Father's name on their foreheads. I said back then that was a mark that was worth having. And when we think about what the chapter has now continued to say to us as we think about these angelic messengers, do we not see even more the importance of that name being written on our foreheads? Do we have the name of the Father's Lamb? I trust that we would have. That will save us from the wrath of God that's coming, and that torment, that restlessness and hell forever that is coming. May it not be too late for us. Let's bow in prayer. Father, apply Thy Word tonight to our hearts. Lord, how time passes and opportunity passes. May we not miss out. May we not be too late. We think of those, Lord, that must have come and cried to Noah in the ark when the rain started to fall, when the water started to rise, and yet the door was closed and Noah couldn't open it. We pray, Lord, that the lesson would not be lost on us tonight, the importance of being in Christ, lest it would be too late for us. Take Thy Word, apply it to our hearts tonight, Lord, let it be a saving word. Let it be a warning word to us all. Write thy truth upon our hearts, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 232 we're going to Sing in closing, O sinner, the Savior is calling for thee. Long, long has He called thee in vain. He called thee when joy lent its crown to thy days. He called thee in sorrow and shame. O turn while the Savior in mercy is waiting, and steer for the harbor light, for how do you know but your soul may be drifting over the dead lane tonight? 232. We'll sing all four verses of this hymn as we close. 232. Oh, say, can you see, ♪ As the only faith ♪ ♪ We come in joyous hymns of praise ♪ ♪ We long in sorrow and pain ♪ ♪ O come, my Saviour, and bless this land ♪ ♪ And sing from the higher high ♪ ♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪ ♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ ♪ His glory we claim ♪ ♪ For God the Savior and sovereign King ♪ ♪ Of all creation we redeem ♪ ♪ O come, my Savior, and rescue me ♪ ♪ And sing for the Fatherland ♪ ♪ For love divine ♪ ♪ But whose strong faith and faith ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ O Savior and Sparrow, inside of me, O infinite Spirit of love. I'll be with you when my heart is broken, inside of me, O treasure thy secret, and mercy it will be, thy secret for all eternity. For now, dear Lord, all your soul may be free. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, O come, Thou King of glory, Our Father, may we take heed to the warning of Scripture. May we press in while there is time and opportunity, while others speak. Lord, may it not be too late. Tonight for some. Bless thy word. Part us with thy fear and favor now. Grant thy people thy abiding portion. For we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. ♪ So,