Honestly . . . I didn’t expect to find it here. I am well down the path toward the final days of earth as I continue to read through Revelation. That things are wrapping up is evident . . . that the Lamb is about to close the book on this chapter of history is evident. But as they say, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings . . . or, in this case, until the last angel proclaims . . .

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”   (Revelation 14:6 ESV)

How amazing is that? The sickle is about to swing . . . the final harvest, which will be thrown into “the great winepress of the wrath of God”, is about to take place (14:19) . . . but even in these final days of earth’s rebellion against her Creator, another angel is sent out proclaiming the eternal gospel.

First, it reminds me that God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (1Peter 3:9) . . . that He who made us and, by His Son’s death, has paid the price to redeem us, is the One who will call to those who have ears to hear, right up to the very end. Though His very character demands that He avenge every transgression against His holy nature . . . my God is also in essence love . . . and, in that love, He has offered the once for all atoning sacrifice for transgressions . . . and desires that people would avail themselves of the blood of the Lamb . . . and not refuse, thus inviting the wrath of the Lamb.

But what I didn’t expect to find here . . . at this stage in the book of Revelation . . . was the gospel . . . the good news. I’ve been aware of the “law of first mention” for awhile now . . . not sure there’s a “law of last mention” . . . but here it is . . . the last mention of the gospel. And an angel is sent to proclaim to earth-dwellers . . . to every nation, tribe, and language . . . the eternal gospel.

The gospel . . . that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day . . . that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, That gospel is the power of God for salvation . . . salvation past . . . salvation present . . . salvation future. It is the eternal gospel.

It is eternal in agency . . . the shed blood of Jesus being the basis by which all who have believed, and have had righteousness credited to their account, are declared justified. Those prior to Christ in time, covered by the eternal purposes of God to Himself provide atonement for sin . . . those on the A.D. side of the calendar, applying the blood through faith . . . those in the days immediately before the end of the age, also washed by the blood of the Lamb by responding, even at the last minute, to the good news message.

And the gospel is eternal in it’s efficacy . . . in it’s effectiveness. It saves completely . . . because the work is His finished and the price paid in full. It saves assuredly . . . because it is founded on the promise of Him who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). It saves wondrously . . . because it rescues the believer not only from the wrath of God but, by His glorious grace, converts the sinner into a child of God . . . infusing a new nature . . . making all things new. It saves eternally . . . that we might inhabit the place prepared for us forever . . . that we might worship the Author of Life without end . . . that we might join with a heavenly host, and those redeemed through the ages, and praise God for the eternal gospel . . .

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
(O Holy Night, 3rd verse)