Worship Him - Revelation 14

The First Angel of Revelation 14

March 1 – 7, 2026

Key Text

“Worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea and springs of waters.” Revelation 14:7, last part

Study Help: The Ministry of Healing, 409–418; Prophets and Kings, 183–189

Introduction

“In Revelation 14, men are called upon to worship the Creator; and the prophecy brings to view a class that, as the result of the threefold message, are keeping the commandments of God. One of these commandments points directly to God as the Creator.” The Great Controversy, 437

Sunday

1 A CRISIS OVER TRUE WORSHIP

1.a. What distinct characteristic of God is the basis of true worship according to the first angel’s message? Revelation 14:7, last part. How does this message parallel the message of Elijah’s time? 1 Kings 18:21

Note: “History is being repeated. The world today has its Ahabs and its Jezebels. The present age is one of idolatry, as verily as was that in which Elijah lived. No outward shrine may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet thousands are following after the gods of this world—after riches, fame, pleasure, and the pleasing fables that permit man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate heart. Multitudes have a wrong conception of God and His attributes and are as truly serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal. Many even of those who claim to be Christians have allied themselves with influences that are unalterably opposed to God and His truth. Thus, they are led to turn away from the divine and to exalt the human.” Prophets and Kings, 177, 178

1.b. How may the subtlety of popular philosophy seduce us away from the worship of the true God? 2 Timothy 4:3, 4

Note: “In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Lawgiver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God, Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false character. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His Word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshipped by but few. Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists—the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.” The Great Controversy, 583

Monday

2 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT DAYS

2.a. Why did Christ face opposition in seeking to elevate true worship? John 3:19, 20; 8:44, 45, 47

Note: “Truth looked down from heaven and saw not the reflection of her image; for dense clouds of moral darkness and gloom enveloped the world, and the Lord Jesus alone was able to roll back the clouds; for He was the Light of the world. By His presence He could dissipate the gloomy shadow that Satan had cast between man and God. Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Through the accumulated misrepresentations of the enemy, many were so deceived that they worshiped a false god, clothed with the attributes of the satanic character.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 176, 177

2.b. How did the apostle Paul face the problem of false worship? Acts 24:14; 28:17. How was he accused by the Jews? Acts 18:13. And by the Romans? Acts 16:20, 21. And by the Greeks? Acts 19:26–28

Note: “Ephesus was a popular center for the worship of Diana. The fame of the magnificent temple of ‘Diana of the Ephesians’ extended throughout all Asia and the world. Its surpassing splendor made it the pride, not only of the city, but of the nation. The idol within the temple was declared by tradition to have fallen from the sky. Upon it were inscribed symbolic characters which were believed to possess great power. Books had been written by the Ephesians to explain the meaning and use of these symbols.

“Among those who gave close study to these costly books were many magicians who wielded a powerful influence over the minds of the superstitious worshipers of the image within the temple.” The Acts of the Apostles, 286

Tuesday

3 DIVINE TACT NEEDED

3.a. How tactful was Paul among the Athenians and the Corinthians? Acts 17:22–31; 18:4

Note: “When the apostle [Paul] took up his work in Corinth, he realized that he must introduce most carefully the great truths he wished to teach. He knew that among his hearers would be proud believers in human theories, and exponents of false systems of worship who were groping with blind eyes, hoping to find in the book of nature theories that would contradict the reality of the spiritual and immortal life as revealed in the Scriptures. He also knew that critics would endeavor to controvert the Christian interpretation of the revealed word, and that skeptics would treat the gospel of Christ with scoffing and derision.

“As he endeavored to lead souls to the foot of the cross, Paul did not venture to rebuke, directly, those who were licentious, or to show how heinous was their sin in the sight of a holy God. Rather he set before them the true object of life and tried to impress upon their minds the lessons of the divine Teacher, which, if received, would lift them from worldliness and sin to purity and righteousness. He dwelt especially upon practical godliness and the holiness to which those must attain who shall be accounted worthy of a place in God’s kingdom.” The Acts of the Apostles, 272

3.b. How careful should we be in our efforts to emphasize true worship? 1 Peter 3:15, 16

Note: “God has jewels in all the churches, and it is not for us to make sweeping denunciation of the professed religious world, but in humility and love, present to all the truth as it is in Jesus. Let men see piety and devotion, let them behold Christlikeness of character, and they will be drawn to the truth.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1184

“The truth should be presented with divine tact, gentleness, and tenderness. It should come from a heart that has been softened and made sympathetic. We need to have close communion with God, lest self rise up, as it did in Jehu, and we pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or as the still showers that revive the withering plants. Let our words be gentle as we seek to win souls. …

“God’s plan is first to get at the heart. Speak the truth, and let Him carry forward the reformatory power and principle. Make no reference to what opponents say, but let the truth alone be advanced. The truth can cut to the quick.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 400

Wednesday

4 THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING CONFLICT

4.a. What are the fundamentals of true worship as proclaimed by the first angel? Psalm 100:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13

Note: “God’s claim to reverence and worship, above the gods of the heathen, is based upon the fact that He is the Creator and that to Him all other beings owe their existence.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 336

“By the first angel, men are called upon to ‘fear God, and give glory to Him’ and to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In order to do this, they must obey His law. Says the wise man: ‘Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’ Ecclesiastes 12:13

“Without obedience to His commandments no worship can be pleasing to God.” The Great Controversy, 436

4.b. What are the fundamentals of all false worship, even among professed Christians? Isaiah 29:13, 14; Matthew 15:3, 9

Note: “In seeking to cast contempt upon the divine statutes, Satan has perverted the doctrines of the Bible, and errors have thus become incorporated into the faith of thousands who profess to believe the Scriptures. The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final struggle of the long-standing controversy concerning the law of God. Upon this battle we are now entering—a battle between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah, between the religion of the Bible and the religion of fable and tradition.” The Great Controversy, 582

“No misfortune is so great as to become the worshiper of a false god. No man is in such miserable darkness as he who has lost his way to heaven.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 435

Thursday

5 THE CLIMAX OF THE CONFLICT

5.a. What test will soon be brought between true and false worship? Revelation 13:4, 8, 12, 15

Note: “We are nearing the close of this earth’s history. Satan is making desperate efforts to make himself god, to speak and act like God, to appear as one who has a right to control the consciences of men. He strives with all his power to place a human institution in the position of God’s holy rest day.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 980, 981

5.b. What is soon to distinguish the worshipers of God from the worshipers of the beast? Exodus 31:16, 17; 1 John 5:2

Note: “The keeping of God’s law, on the one hand, and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast.” The Great Controversy, 445, 446

“Thus, the distinction is drawn between the loyal and the disloyal. Those who desire to have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Thus, they are distinguished from the disloyal, who have accepted a man-made institution in place of the true Sabbath. The observance of God’s rest day is a mark of distinction between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 981

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

How is false worship practiced today, even among professed believers?
Name some obstacles encountered by the apostle Paul in his labors.
What is essential for us to be able to witness successfully for Christ?
By what points can we distinguish between true and false worship?
How are the vast majority of people soon to promote false worship?