The Apostle John records for us that at the end of the age “another angel [will] 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, 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” (Revelation 14:6-7).
The command to fear God is not new. Jesus taught the people “And fear not them which kill the body [mankind], but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Solomon wrote almost a thousand years earlier, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Job, perhaps another thousand years before Solomon, wrote “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
Men are to fear God. In fact, the fear of God is characteristic of all them that know and trust him. The Psalmist testified “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments” (Psalm 112:1). Paul, conversely, after describing the wickedness of unregenerate man in a variety of ways concluded with this simple testimony, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18). It is evident that a right relationship to God requires that he be feared.
To fear God begins by recognizing him for who he is and for what he has done. The appeal of the angel is rooted in acknowledging God as “him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” We are to worship him as Creator. The Psalmist made the point “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3).
The failure to acknowledge and worship God as Creator is at the heart of God’s formal accusation of sinful man recorded by the Apostle Paul. He writes “that which may be known of God is manifest in them [sinful man]; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).
The angel who called upon earth’s inhabitants to fear God not only appealed on the basis of creation but also warned “the hour of his judgment is come.” God, who created all things, “hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). Paul told the men of Athens that God “now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained’ whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him [Jesus] from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
The message of the angel to those at the end of the age to fear God and give him the glory due unto him is ours to embrace now. Those who fear God will enjoy him forever, but those who remain unrepentant will face certain judgment. The choice is ours.
