An Eternal Gospel

​Reformation – 2025                                                 LSB #’s 947, 513 + TLH 605:5 tune Ewing, 656
Text – Revelation 14:6
 
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation & tribe & language & people.
 
AN ETERNAL GOSPEL
 
 
Picture an artist who’s found a convenient spot on top of an ocean rock from which to paint.   The artist is looking toward the shore, painting the beauty of a village & its surroundings.   This artist is so absorbed in the process of painting that the returning tide is not being noticed as the waves lash around the base of the rock. 
Neither are the warning voices from the shore being heeded.   Eventually, the waves would bury the artist & the painting. 
In the same way, just before Judgment Day, many people will be fascinated with earthly charms.  This will be to such an extent that they will not realize the judgment that is creeping up on them.  Closer & closer the time draws near, yet the masses are unaware of the danger.  To these indifferent people an angel appears, flying in mid-heaven, that all might hear:
“…Fear God   & give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come…”  (Revelation 14:7 ESV)   No one who continues in unbelief will escape.  Revelation is a powerful book, written in a style that grabs your heart & shocks it.   In the midst of a world filled with natural & human caused trauma, Revelation calls us to hold on to Jesus. 
What afflictions, troubles, traumas, or difficulties are you facing this morning?  Are there challenges or struggles that seem overwhelming in this time of your life?  As parents get older, it can be a real challenge to know how best to care for them.  As children grow to independence, learning how & when to let go is a fearful trial for many parents. 
Chronic illnesses like arthritis or back pain cause us to move slower & to wonder if we’re
going to get run over as the rest of the world races on by.  And all that can pale in comparison to struggling with loved ones who are addicted to any of the various compulsions with which the brokenness of this world entraps them.  Across the entire planet, real human lives are being tempted, broken & ruined, by the millions, every single day. 
Prior to the Reformation, the church had become an unwitting partner of that destruction.  Instead of lifting people up, through the power of forgiveness, the church withheld forgiveness until sufficient sums of money were given.  The church was basically running a religious extortion scheme to fund the lavish lifestyles of the Vatican. 
The end result – the people of the Middle Ages were in constant fear of damnation from an angry God.  They knew nothing of the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding.  Their conscience could find no rest in the kingdom of their demanding lord.  You might recognize that as quite the opposite of today’s attitudes about God. 
The people of the Middle Ages needed someone like Martin Luther to rescue them from despair with good news of great joy for all the people.   In our culture, almost no one seems to be afraid of God.  The majority of our nation no longer attends church.  The good news about Jesus as Savior from sin does not appear to be much in demand. 
Jesus will just have to live with our sin is closer to the attitude.  Gratefulness for His death on the cross is fleeting & shallow.  Even among faithful Christians, rejoicing in suffering is mostly unheard of.   Endurance as a character trait has been replaced by the microwave. 
Lennart Kaiser was pastor in a small town in Bavaria during the Reformation.  As he began to preach the Gospel, he was accused of being a heretic.  Brought before the court in the year 1524, he gave in & renounced his Lutheran convictions.   Finding no peace, he resigned his position.  In 1525, he went to Wittenberg to study.  After 18 months, news came that his father was dying.  He went back to Bavaria, even though he knew this might be dangerous.  He saw his father but shortly thereafter was apprehended again & accused once more of being a heretic.  This time he was more firmly grounded in the Word of God & defended the pure teaching of the Gospel while being interrogated.  He was defrocked & handed over to the secular authorities. 
On August 16, 1527, He was burned at the stake.  He asked those attending his execution to sing the hymn “Come, Holy Spirit.”  His last words – “Jesus, I am yours; take me to heaven.”  Such faith is the power of God’s Word if we believe it.  Mr. Kaiser was willing to die for His faith in Jesus.  He was certain that, upon death, he would be welcomed into the arms of God. 
Where will you be once you have taken your last breath on earth?   Both the Old & New Testaments offer many variations of the phrase, “Do not be afraid.”  Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”  Luke 2:10, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” 
 Often, when we’re told not to be afraid, there is no basis for it – other than wishful thinking, or a ‘stick your head in the sand’ sort of philosophy.  The Word of God tells us not to be afraid because the Creator of the entire universe knows that this life is only temporary.  Even the best of things here are but a fleeting reflection of the amazing & perfect creation to come. 
We gather in God’s house on Sundays to receive the peace & rest that our Lord offers us.  However, that peace & rest is often obliterated as soon as we make our way home.  The people to whom John wrote Revelation were enduring persecution & suffering beyond our imagination. 
Yet, John was encouraging them to grasp the hope they had which was built upon the death & the resurrection of the Son of God.  Since Jesus was able to overcome death, any of us who die in Christ will certainly also overcome death through the power of the Holy Spirit.  And since our eternal life is certain, there’s no need to be afraid of anything here on earth.  Nothing can take our eternal future away from us.  And this life will end one day no matter what we do or how we live.  Thus, the angels in the text from Revelation warn us not to become too attached to this world: “Fear God & give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, & worship Him who made heaven & earth, the sea & the springs of water.” 
We worship Yahweh, not out of compulsion, but out of joy & thankfulness for all He has done.  Yes, our sinful nature fights that, so it’s important to have the encouragement of our brothers & sisters in Christ.  As they live in Christ, they help us to resist the sinful tendencies of our heart.  Likewise, we can help them as we approach them in gentleness & with respect. 
One of the greatest blessings I received while at seminary, was my brothers in Christ who were going through the same trials & challenges with me.  We supported & encouraged each other to resist our sinful tendencies & to lean upon the Holy Spirit to get us through. 
In this text from Revelation, we have both warning & encouragement, both law & Gospel.  Verse 13 brings us the good news in a rather blunt form: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’  ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors…’” 
Though we rarely look at death as a good thing, it is truly a blessing to die in the Lord.  Death apart from Jesus is more horrific than any of us can imagine, & hopefully none of us will experience that.  Whatever earthly things have claimed our attention, hopefully someone loves us enough to challenge us so they don’t overwhelm our attention on Christ. 
The angel with the eternal gospel is calling here today.  He’s calling for you that your sins might be erased & that you may dwell in peace & rest for eternity.  Amen. 
 
The clouds of judgment gather, the time is growing late; be sober & be watchful, our judge is at the gate: the judge who comes in mercy, the judge who comes in might to put an end to evil & diadem the right.  O sweet & blessed country, the home of God’s elect!  O sweet & blessed country that eager hearts expect!  Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest, who art, with God the Father & Spirit, ever blest.  Amen.  LSB 513:1 & TLH 605:5.