Who is the “angel” of Revelation 18:1?
(Exodus 33:18-19; 1 Thes. 5:1-8; Revelation 18:1-5) Blog 18-24 Jun. 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Three angel messengers proclaim God’s last call to humanity. The first tells us how to prepare for the judgment that has just begun. The second announces the fall of what once was God’s true church. The third angel warns of the fate of those who worship something other than the Creator and shows that God’s people while keeping his Commandments trust in Jesus for their salvation.
Global Intensity
1. How does Paul, when quoting Isaiah, describe the intensity of the last days? Paul writes that only a remnant will be saved & God will bring his work to a quick end (Rom. 9:27-29).
2. How does Jesus describe the intensity of the last days? Jesus said that after the great tribulation the powers of heaven & earth would be shaken & signs would appear in the heaven in quick succession followed by his unexpected return (Matt. 24:29-30).
3. How does Paul, in Thessalonians, describe the surprising nature of Christ’s second coming? Paul says that sudden destruction comes when men are saying “Peace and safety,” & that the second coming will be a great surprise to the wicked but that God’s people who watch & are sober will not be surprised (1 Thes. 5:1-6).
4. What does it mean to watch and be sober? To “watch” means to be daily in God’s Word so you can overcome temptation & discern the meaning of events around you & to be “sober” means to have your mind under the control of reason not carried away with date-setting or frivolous talk, but rather filled with faith, hope, & love (Matt. 26:40-41; 1 Cor. 5:13; 1 Thes. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:13).
5. What three great powers attempt to bring a final deception to the world just before Jesus returns? Pentecostalism, Spiritism, & Catholicism unite to convince the nations to oppose Christ’s second coming (Rev. 16:13–14).
6. How must God’s people be prepared so as not to be deceived by the agencies of Satan? It is only by a special outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit that his people will be prepared to resist the end time delusions of Satan (Zech. 10:1; Jam. 5:7-8; Rev. 18:1).
Another Angel
7. Who is the “angel” of Revelation 18:1, that lightens the earth with his glory? The “angel” having great power represents the Holy Spirit, who like Jesus in chapter ten, comes “down from heaven” (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 3:16-21; Rev. 9:14; 10:1; 18:1).
8. How did Jesus describe the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus said that the Spirit would guide us into all truth & glorify Jesus (John 16:13-14).
9. To whom did the first angel say that we should give glory? The first angel said that we should glorify God (Rev. 14:7).
10. To whom do we naturally give glory? We naturally give glory to ourselves, our talents, & our deeds (Jer. 9:23-24; Dan. 5:23; Rom. 1:21; Heb. 5:5; Rev. 18:7).
11. When men glorify themselves, what often happens? When Nebuchadnezzar glorified himself, he was struck with a form of insanity, when Herod glorified himself, he was eaten by worms & died, & Paul writes that when men refuse to glorify God they become fools & God gives them up to uncleanness (Prov. 16:18; Dan. 4:30-32; Acts 12:20-23; Rom. 1:21-24).
Lightened with God’s Glory … See our video on Revelation 18 at: https://youtu.be/OkTqDHMYy50
12. When the fourth angel comes with whose glory does he fill the earth? The “angel” of Revelation 18 fills the earth with his own glory & that of Jesus & of the Father (John 16:13-14; Rev. 18:1).
13. What is the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? The glory of the Deity is their loving, gracious character that seeks the good of others (Ex. 33:18-19; Jer. 9:24; Rom. 15:9).
14. In the final crisis how will God’s people give him glory? God’s people will confess their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, honor God in the way they live, praise him, & be united (Josh. 7:19; Psa. 50:23; Matt. 5:16; Rom. 15:5-6; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 2:11).
15. Why did God create mankind in the beginning? God created humanity for his glory. The catechism states “The purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” (Isa. 43:7).
16. Why is the term “Lamb” used continually in Revelation to refer to Jesus? John, the Baptist, said of Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world,” for just as in the Old Testament lambs were offered as a substitute for the sinner who deserved death, so Jesus is a Substitute sin offering for all who trust in him (John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21).