An audio overview of the lesson by Raul Diaz.
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Script for this Audio:
Creation, a Biblical
Theme
Rev 14:6 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,
Rev 14:7 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 waters.
Most times this verse is
quoted it is said that the message is found in verse 7. But, they miss
that the angel has “the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on
the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people…”
what is the gospel? The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation
(Rom. 1:16). However, "the message of the cross ... is
the power of God" (1 Cor.1: 18) and Christ is the "power of God"
(vs. 24). Now, since God created by His power and also by His word.
That means that His power is in His Word. And we know that Christ is the
Word. It is His word that sanctifies us. Therefore, it follows that
the same Word and power that creates also sanctifies. So, creation and
redemption are basically the same.
So, we can see how these
two verses tie the Gospel to Creation. It is the same process. So,
to “worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters…” is to worship the Redeemer. Now, if to Worship is give glory,
and, God’s glory is His character, then to worship really is to reflect His
character, which is the result of sanctification. (What is the Character
of the Creator redeemer? Exodus 33 and 34).
It is no surprise then
that Creation is a theme which reoccurs often in the Bible. Our lesson
gives us dozens of examples of this reoccurrence. The point the lesson
brings out well is that all these mentions of Creation happen as if Creation is
a fact. In other words, what is narrated in Genesis 1 and 2 actually
happened literally. This creates a problem for those who believe in theistic
evolution. If they believe Jesus was an actual person - God in the flesh
- and He spoke of Adam, Eve, Abel, Cain, and even Noah as factual people*
should that not give their existence and story validity: if the stories of
these Bible characters are not true, then neither is the fall of man and the
need for a redeemer.
So, if the story of
Creation is true, then it follows that God’s Word indeed has power, because it
creates. This means that the Words of Christ were creative, indeed
transformative. Water turns into wine. Food is multiplied.
Physical impediments and infirmities are corrected. The dead come to
life. What about forgiveness? Can Christ speak forgiveness into
existence? If He can speak and it happens, then when He says, “Your sins
are forgiven,” forgiveness happens. When he says, the old is dead, we are
new in Christ, that is exactly what happens. Those who doubt the reality
of redemption are as evolutionist* as those who doubt creation.
This
first angel’s message is positioned against the 2nd and 3rd message.
These two messages deal with what we call spiritual Babylon. Its
reference it’s obvious, but its interpretation is often not. The word Babylon
means the gate of heaven, not confusion. The word, however, is similar to
the word for “babbling,” which means when something is said and not
understood. This is what many called the confusion of languages God
caused when the tower of Babel was built. Which is why many people
associate Babylon with Confusion. But, God confused the languages because the
people in that time, were trying to exalt themselves to in defiance of God
(Sounds familiar does it not). (Babylon falls because it exalted
itself. If it was confusion, then it is
clarified or straightened out.) So, in essence the 3rd Angels
message is a call to abandon any belief system that exalts the teachings of men
over God’s. Those who hear the Gospel and believe it – as Abraham
believed – are those who, 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.” They are they of which it is said: “Here is the
patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev 14:12). May we be part of that group.
