3. The Third Angel’s Message.

“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. . . . There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.’ This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” —Revelation 14:9-12.

The third angel’s message demands a decision. It divides the entire world into two groups. On one side stand the apostate Christians who worship “the beast and his image” and “receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand.” On the other hand stand those who reject the authority of the beast; these are “the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”

Note the contrast between the two opposing groups. Those who receive the mark of the beast are compromising worshipers who follow convenient man-made ideas and practices. The “saints” have as their distinguishing traits: “patient endurance,” obedience to “God’s commandments,” and they “remain faithful to Jesus.”

Our advanced Focus on Prophecy Bible course presents an in-depth study of the identity of Babylon, and also of the beast, his image, and his mark. In this guide we can examine only briefly the vital importance of this third message.