“ … saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach … ”
(Rev. 14:6, NKJV)
We concluded the previous teaching with the preview of how the knowledge of the gospel of Christ will spread and increase across the earth. We promised that we will then specifically look at Rev. 14:6: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.”
We need to again strongly warn against a literal interpretation of the book of Revelation. This misunderstood book is clearly recorded visions that operate with symbolic values, and certainly illustrates spiritual realities. This verse is for instance preceded by two terrifying animals who arise from the sea and from the earth. This cannot possibly be literal animals. Then we are told how the Lamb stands on mount Zion, and is surrounded by 144 000 Lambs who look EXACTLY like He does. Jesus is clearly not a physical Lamb; and neither are you and I nor the symbolic 144 000! In the teaching of Manna Day 1393-1394 we explained that the number twelve is the number of Godly rule, and is thus represented by 144 0000, which mathematically speaking is 12 x 12 x 1000, which is to say perfect Godly government up until the thousandth generation, in other words: eternally. Obviously there are more believers in the Bride throughout the ages who overcome than merely this magical number; it is thus not the number of people, but a symbolic number that represents their character. They are those “ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4).
The verse we’re currently studying speaks of a first angel who has a particular mandate to announce something specific, but there is also a second angel (verse 8) and a third angel (verse 9), who also have particular assignments to complete and statements to make. The second angel, for instance, announces that Babylon has fallen, and thus we need to realise that what is at issue here is the head of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar saw, as we explained in the teaching of Day 1543-1545. The head of gold points to the Babylonian kingdom which ruled the earth between +626-539 b.C. But when the head of this statue falls, something else falls too: this kingdom which instated itself centuries ago, IN THE PLACE of the true Head, Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:23). Then it simply means that the new dispensation of the kingdom of Christ (according to the statue symbolism, thus the sixth kingdom), will destroy all the kingdoms that preceded it, as well as the remnants of them that are still present in our current society.
That which the second angel thus announces, occurs AFTER the first angel proclaimed the message of the increase of the rule of the Christ. We can thus accept that since the prophetic announcement of the gospel of Christ took place in the year 2000, this symbolic statue in our reality and world is actually disintegrating. Here Babylon serves as a collective term of the head of all earthly kingdoms, and with the fall of Babylon all the other earthly kingdoms fall too. This explains why the world is currently in more chaos than in the millennia before. While the collapse of worldly systems take place all over, this sixth kingdom of Christ steadily increases across the world, a little bit at a time, since we know that “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9).
There are various Biblical commentators [like for instance Clarence Larkin in The Book of Revelation (p.133), the spiritual leader of Hal Lindsay and Tim La Hay] who says that there will literally be physical angels (with wings) who will proclaim this eternal gospel. This is in no way Scriptural truth. The three angels are not literal angels, just as the two animals who come out of the sea and from the earth are not literal animals (Rev. 13:1 &11).
The specific angel is described as being located “mid-heaven” (ACV) / “midair” (AMP) / “the midst of heaven” (CAB) / “across the sky” (CEV) / “directly overhead” (LEB) / “Middle-Heaven” (MSG) / “through the heavens” (NLT). That this is a somewhat obscure phrase is indeed the case. Some translations use terms that make it seem as if it is a specific space, the so-called “middle-heaven”, and this is absolutely inaccurate. We’ve often defined what is meant by heavens in Scripture:
- On a literal level – the expanse over the earth. Look for instance at Gen. 1:6-8: “Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.”
- On a symbolic level – the spiritual realm. See for instance Eph. 2:6 – “[He] raised usup together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
The term ‘middle’ is often found in Scripture, but does not for instance point to locality, and is often symbolic (as for instance with the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden – read the teaching of Manna Day 1407-1408 again). It then rather points to importance or centrality, and is thus often linked to the heart or origin.
An angel, we know by now, means the following in the original language: a messenger. In the book of Revelation, the role of the angel is absolutely central, starting from the very first verse: “The Revelation … which … He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John …” in each chapter, up until one of the penultimate verses of the last chapter: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.” (Rev. 22:16). Who or what this angel is to whom this enormous mystery has been entrusted, is a deep-seated mystery. We will need to prepare ourselves to receive a completely new understanding of a revelation about the nature of God which this apocalyptic book offers.
The entire book of Revelation is written in symbolic language, and uses a variety of literary devices to send and signify (Rev. 1:1) the message through the angel. The fact that the word ‘signify’ is so prominent in this first verse of the book of Revelation is an important key. Remember – a sign does not refer to itself; a sign always refers to another reality. The paw prints of a lion in the veld is not a lion – it only points to a lion. You and I are not going to try and actually crawl through a notice that reads EXIT – it is merely a sign that points to the physical exit.
Perhaps we should spend a minute on the common concept of angel, as it is employed in Scripture. The word angel in Hebrew, mal’ak, and in Greek, aggelos, means messenger throughout. Growing up we only understood angels as heavenly beings, with wings. But it is interesting to note that throughout the entire Bible there is not one reference to angels having wings [in contrast to the symbolic cherubs (Ex. 25:20; Isa. 6:2) and the equally symbolic seraphs (Isa. 6:2 & 6)]. In the teaching of Manna Day 141 we explained that when one’s spiritual eyes are opened (2 Kings 6:17; Luke 24:23; John 20:12), we cannot see the differences between angels and people, and thus angels are sometimes looked upon as people (Ezek. 9:2; Gen. 18:2 & 16). In Heb. 13:2 it is practically explained as follows: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Angels thus also have the voice of a man (Dan. 8:15). Although we are led by the Holy Spirit in the new covenant, God can send angels “to show man His uprightness” (Job 33:23) and to announce important assignments (Matt. 1:20; 2:13 & 19; Acts 8:26; 10:3; 12:7).
What is undeniably clear of angels is what Heb. 1:14 spells out: they are often nothing other than “ministering spirits sent forth for service for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation”. Obviously believers can also be saints, those who are separated for God, who have been made servants of a new testament (2 Cor. 3:6). Although the Bible sometimes speaks of “the angels in heaven” (for instance in Mark 13:32), we need to remember that to be in the heavens (always the plural), means to be part of the reign of God (Ps. 114). Then the amazing statement in Luke 20:36 becomes a very important point of departure when we speak about “humans as angels’ (1 Cor. 13:1), where Jesus explains about “the sons of the resurrection”: “nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God …” The Amplified Bible makes it clear: “they are angel-like and equal to angels”. You should know that these words are applicable to you, too!
In Gen. 28:12 our arch father Jacob dreamt about a ladder erected on earth which extends to heaven, where the angels climb up and down from. Take note: the angels did not fly! And obviously this was not a physical ladder, but a dream symbol to indicate the heavenly walk IN THE SPIRIT (like Enoch – Gen. 5:24) of these messengers. We understand this Old Testament typology or symbolic pointer in much clearer terms when Jesus says the following to the disciple Nathanael: “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” This verse reminds us of the statement Jesus makes in Matt. 26:64: “I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” In the teaching of Manna Day 575-577 this is presented as follows: “From now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the anointed Christ of God.” The Son of man [= Jesus] sits at the right hand of the anointed Christ of God! Indeed: He “raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6, EMTV). As the anointed sons in Christ symbolically climb up and down the ladder (= that which links heaven and earth), named Jesus, so the kingdom of Christ comes, “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). In this light, Ps. 103:20’s sketching of people as “messengers” is very clear: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word!”
Keeping that in mind, it is important that we return to the angel who, in the book of Revelation’s first chapter is specifically called Jesus’s angel, and in the last chapter, where He speaks, and is called “my angel”. Obviously this is a very specific angel or messenger, and clearly not a human messenger. It is important that this angel, as everything else in this book, is also a symbol.
There is a particular order that occurs according to Rev. 1:1-2 that we need to take note of – the revelation message has its origin in God → it is given to Jesus Christ → He gives it to the angel → His angel gives it to the apostle John → John gives it to the anointed. It is offered to the anointed so that they can know what God’s blue print is for them as individuals, and for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, so that they can know “the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord”, or then: the eternal gospel.
- Selah: Do you know who this specific messenger is?
- Read: Acts 4-12
- Memorise: Acts 6:10 (this is a key to the question above)
