VERSES 6-7 “Then I saw an 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— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
“Then I saw an ANGEL…
In Scripture there are four primary usages for the word “angel”:
1) It can denote a special, prominent dispensational messenger or individual used of the Lord (See Rev. 1:20; 2:1, 8, 12; etc., regarding the seven messengers to the Church).
2) “Angel” can refer to Jesus (Rev. 10:1, 2; 20:1).
3) The word “angel” can portray the forces of nature, such as an earthquake, wind, fire, etc. In such highly figurative or poetic language, the forces of nature are pictured as being God’s servants, showing they are at His disposal to be used in whatever way He might choose (Psa. 104:4).
4) And in the Book of Revelation an “angel” can be a message. Such a message can be in the inanimate form of reading material, published thoughts, or proclamations issued to enlighten, encourage, and instruct, as well as reprove, those to whom the message is addressed.
“Then I saw an angel FLYING IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN…
In Verses 6 and 7 an “angel” is seen to fly “in the midst of heaven.” This expression indicates something outside of, different from or issuing forth between heaven and earth—hence an independent voice or message not identified with established religious orthodoxy (not emanating or being proclaimed by the professed church, the church nominal, as they are totally unaware). The harvest message at this end of the age has already gone forth throughout Christendom with the proclamation “Fear God… and worship him.”
NOTE: “And I saw an angel” [omit ‘another’]. The Greek word signifying “another” is not found in the main body of the Sinaitic text; it appears as a marginal gloss by a later copyist.
There is no angel before this one, thus it is clear that “another” makes no sense.
“Then I saw an 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…
“This first angel is the angel which opens the harvest. He is FLYING -- flying is the active tool of searching (in this case searching for wheat.) His flight is in mid-heaven -- directly in the midst of the Christian religious world, not favoring one end over the other.
He has the EVERLASTING GOSPEL -- an implication that VARIATIONS of the gospel (other gospels or “another gospel” as the apostle Paul refers to it) have been popular at various times during the age; but THIS Gospel (the Divine Plan of the Ages) is the totality of the story (the one true gospel) -- the one which accounts for and covers the good news of ALL AGES, and for ALL mankind, unlike the ones commonly preached throughout Christendom.
Note that this message is for the REAPING OF ALL OF THE FIELD (and for the additional work of binding the tares) because it is preached to both groups: Those who dwell on the earth (nominal Christianity) and every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (the group from which the True Church & Great Company comes.) in other words from one end of heaven to the other (Matt. 24:31).”
Continued with next post.
