The Everlasting Gospel

The phrase “the everlasting gospel” is one that is very familiar to Seventh-day Adventists. The three angels' messages are well known and have been the central theme and defining message of the movement since its inception over 160 years ago.

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, (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. (8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (Rev 14:6-10)

These messages are often memorized and emphasized. The first angel proclaims the arrival of God's judgment hour, the second declares the fall of Babylon, and the third warns of the consequences of worshipping the beast and his image. Importantly, Scripture introduces this series by stating that the first angel comes “having the everlasting gospel to preach.”

For many believers, the focus has often been on the warning aspects: the judgment, the fall of Babylon, and the mark of the beast. Publications and outreach efforts have frequently highlighted these themes, sometimes at the expense of the central point—the everlasting gospel.

In some circles, the gospel has been equated with warning people about Sunday laws or encouraging Sabbath observance. While important, these are not the heart of the gospel message. The true message to the world must be the everlasting gospel, for there has never been another message by which humanity can be saved.

The Essence of the Three Angels’ Messages
While there are indeed three messages, the heart of all three is the everlasting gospel. Being “everlasting,” it transcends time and place. This message existed in the Garden of Eden and stretches across the centuries. It is not confined to end-time prophecy alone.

The danger arises when the context of the message is mistaken for the message itself. The fall of Babylon is not the gospel. The mark of the beast is not the gospel. These are the setting in which the true message—the gospel—is to be preached. To elevate the setting above the substance is to misrepresent the focus of the message.

Amid judgment, apostasy, and crisis, God offers only one solution to the world: the everlasting gospel. Any other message offered as hope is not the true gospel. Men are saved by faith in the gospel, not by mere knowledge of prophetic events or religious observance.

The Message of Righteousness by Faith
Ellen White wrote extensively concerning the message brought by Elders Waggoner and Jones in 1888. She stated in the 1888 Materials, p. 1575:

“The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:24) In this scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking especially of the moral law. The law reveals sin to us, and causes us to feel our need of Christ, and to flee unto him for pardon and peace by exercising repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

"An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord's message through Brethren Waggoner and Jones. By exciting that opposition, Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world." {1888 1575}

This light was not focused on the fall of Babylon or the mark of the beast. It was the message of Christ and His righteousness. That is the light which is to fill the whole earth with God's glory.

In 1888, the controversy centered around the law in Galatians. The reason the law became an issue is because Christ’s rightful place was occupied by the law in the minds of many. To restore Christ to His true position, the idol of legalism had to be cast down. That was the crisis in 1888.

Today, the glory that is to lighten the world has not yet fully appeared. Yet the call remains, as recorded in Testimonies to Ministers, p. 91:

"The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. " {TM 91.2}

"Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure." {TM 91.2}

The gospel does not oppose the commandments of God. It opposes legalism—the attempt to attain righteousness through the law. True righteousness by faith results in loving obedience, as it is made manifest in keeping God's commandments.

Preach the Gospel, Then Shall the End Come
Jesus declared:

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

The end will not come because of political upheaval, papal developments, or global collapse. It will come when the gospel of the kingdom has been preached to all nations.

Jesus commanded:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

This is the commission. Any message not centered on the gospel is not fulfilling this commission.

Every religion teaches morality in some form. One may require modest dress, another may have ceremonial purity rules. But only Christianity presents a Saviour. The gospel is not a demand, but a provision. It is not about what must be done to be saved, but what has already been done to secure salvation.

What Is the Gospel?
The word gospel means “good news.” This disqualifies many fear-based interpretations. The mark of the beast, by itself, is not good news. The warning may be valid, but it is not the gospel. The good news is about what God has done—not what man must do.

Good news shines brightest in contrast to bad news. A dollar is not much unless it’s given to someone starving. The gospel must be understood against the backdrop of humanity’s true condition—not just that people have sinned, but that they cannot help but sin. The problem is not isolated actions, but a corrupt source.

The gospel appears to be good news when God says, “Keep the law and you shall live.” But that becomes devastating news when it is discovered that fallen humanity cannot keep the law. To require obedience as a condition for life, while knowing it is impossible for man to obey in his own strength, is the worst news.

But the gospel reveals that the One who required obedience has fulfilled it on behalf of all. Eternal life is already found in Christ, and is offered as a gift. He that has the Son has life—this is the good news.

There Is No Other Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...” (Romans 1:16)

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel... let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8–9)

This is the message that will cover the earth as waters cover the sea. The final outpouring of the Spirit will accompany the preaching of the everlasting gospel—not conspiracy theories, not timelines, but the good news of salvation in Christ alone.

Now is the appointed time. The message of 1888 has not yet been fulfilled in full power. But God still waits for a people who will embrace and proclaim Christ and His righteousness with clarity and boldness. May this be the generation through whom His purpose is fulfilled.