In this sermon, the preacher starts by telling a story about a young man who worked as a woodcutter. The young man initially worked hard and produced a good pile of logs, but each day his productivity decreased. The old woodcutter revealed that the young man had not sharpened his axe, which was the reason for his diminishing results. The preacher then moves on to the biblical text in Revelation 14:6-12, where an angel proclaims the everlasting gospel to all nations. The preacher emphasizes the importance of fearing God, giving Him glory, and worshiping Him as the creator of heaven and earth. He also warns against being consumed by worldly attractions and urges the congregation to live in a way that pleases God.

It's now the last service of this conference. And we're so thankful for all the Lord has done for us in these days. Our text we find in Revelation, the last book in the Bible, chapter 14 from verse 6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him who made heaven and earth the sea and springs of water. And another angel followed saying Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city because she has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Then a third angel followed. Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, if anyone worships the beast in his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his mouth. The cup of his indignation, he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever and they have no rest day or night who worships the beast in his image and whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. When I look here at this arrangement, you see the flames inside, do you also see it? But I think with the other bush there, those flames were actually greater than the bush itself. May those flames always burn in our hearts. Now let's return to our text. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth. Saying, fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him who made heaven and earth the sea and springs of water. As it says, the angel was flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel. Not just a gospel that comes and goes, it flares up and then it dies down again. This is the everlasting gospel. He endures in the gospel and is faithful, he will have everlasting life, but he who is unfaithful he will be tormented forever. And this gospel, it says, will be preached to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. And saying with a loud voice, worship him who is the creator of heaven and earth. The angels have a great work. Even that angel was calling out something great. So often in the Bible we read that when God was about to do something great, he told his angels about it. He first tells them, for they, the Bible says, look out to see the wonders that he will do amongst the children of men. That you find in 1 Peter 1 verse 12. In Hebrews 1 verse 14. It says that the angels are God's messengers that he sends to those that serve him and who will inherit the kingdom of heaven. So we see how the angels are totally involved in God's kingdom here on earth. The Lord Jesus said that when there is someone that repents on earth, there is always joy in heaven. When just one sinner repents, there is rejoicing in heaven. The angels rejoice. So when they see the gospel spreading, going to all the nations and tribes, there is rejoicing among the angels. Before the Lord Jesus was born, the angels were told about it and they came and prepared the way, proclaimed the message. And when he was in great distress, sweating sweat drops of blood, the angels came to comfort him and strengthen him. If you read in the New Testament, you frequently find that God uses angels working through them. If the Lord Jesus would have commissioned the angels saying, go to all the nations, preaching to the ends of the earth, I wonder what would have happened if they would have got that commission. I believe that the sun wouldn't have set on the first day without great things having happened. They are not as lazy as we are. They are not as lukewarm as we are. If God speaks to them, they jump into action immediately, sometimes coming down to earth just like lightning. They are so excited and so involved in God's plan for this earth and for mankind, that they are longing to see the salvation of man. Are they perhaps disappointed when they look at you, if they look at the congregation and they say, oh my, what a pity, and that they are disappointed when they see the results? So the angel was flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming this everlasting gospel. The gospel is everlasting, is forever. Everything else will stop. Even you who go to Durban and to the city and you want the attractions of this world, you are just food for hell. You'll end up in everlasting torment. He calls out, worship God, the creator of heaven and earth. But just look at what man does. They serve other things, worshipping silver and gold. Worshipping idols. I don't believe that my father can become a serpent, a snake, or that my mother can become a snake. I'd never accept it if people told me that I'm an offspring of a snake. I don't believe my father will become an ancestral spirit that will come back to haunt me and to bring bad luck upon me. If the children get sick or get hurt, then I say, oh, it's my father or my grandfather that has caused it. I don't believe in going to a witch doctor or someone who will tell me my fortune, or who will tell me that, oh, that bad luck has come upon me because of this or other reason. And one ends up slaughtering cattle and goats. Until there's nothing left, we'll die poor. Looking for a good fortune, it'll never come. But amazingly, when we turn to the Lord, within a day our fortunes turn. We don't have time to elaborate. And then the second angel came. Another angel followed. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Babylon is fallen. Babylon is fallen. Do you know what Babylon is? Babylon stands for evil, for iniquity, for the world and what the world stands for. Even the way you dress, those see-through dresses, those tight, that tight-fitting clothes, all that the world stands for, that's what Babylon is. Or maybe those low-cut dresses that everyone can see the breasts sticking out. It says, Babylon has made the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Just look what it's like in the world today. Look at the fornication. The immorality. Look at our youth. And they are all standing there, like that, like that. Now fornication doesn't only stand for immorality in that sense, because it says that you fornicators, you adulterers, don't you know that loving the world is enmity with God the great Babylon that makes the world and the nations drunk with her fornication 12 years 13 years 14 years and then there's that prostitution where 12 13 14 year old girls are selling their bodies that spirit of immorality has been poured out across the earth yeah just look at our all the children born of children out of wedlock showing how babylon's influence has spread all over so they don't have a car yeah but I'm going but I give a bop a name but apparently you are not a puppy and then there's drugs young people who are still young but who have been intoxicated by these drugs to the point where they've damaged even their own bodies they can't even think normally anymore would that way would that way why does it pop in you start struggling I'm not totally standing up to go botwa about to be sure they go oh gosh you're gonna see me know it's it's cut so good Allah we love for the quash of a seven and me people in people intoxicated by this wine of babylon people who sell their bodies they spend one night with five different men they work at night like an and then during the day they sleep everything is upside down when I put on paper you have an eternal soul but you sell it for 50 rand you're cheap and then who is selling on a zinu who was in Kwanzaa satan you've been no more I was a puppy and then there's TV you parents who bring TVs into your home you bring it into your home and that spirit spirit of babylon comes with it and that's what you injecting your children with that they will be influenced by it the internet cell phones that is that wine that is flowing a part of it that smoke of the torment will rise but you will be part of it like Sodom and Gomorrah Babylon who here belongs to Babylon who's part of Babylon here maybe even your own children don't you see it you as parents one man said if you pray for your child realize that your child is lost you can't pray for the child salvation if you are not sure that that child is born again remember John Bunyan's mother who said my son if you don't serve the Lord I will be a swift witness against you on judgment day I will throw the first stone and out of that boy came a John Bunyan where the mother said I'll be a swift witness against my child that today children mothers and fathers defend their children excuse their children close an eye to them you're a bad breed maybe you don't need the righteous judge on the day of judgment he just needs to call John Bunyan's mother just stand next to her and it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions if you don't know where your child stands just ask yourself has your son ever come to you with a vision from the Lord saying you know father mother this is what the Lord has shown me and spoken to me about do your children have dreams that come from heaven where they are revealed heavenly mysteries if not then realize your child is from hell on its way to hell it's a heathen your sons and your daughters shall prophesy prophesying isn't just predicting future events saying I saw this and so that means this and that will happen no prophesying is much more than that it's being in the congregation and being a benefit to the congregation being able to share things that are of benefit to other Christians God reveals his secrets to the angels how much more should he be able to do that to your children boys and girls and where are they what are they doing with what are they busy spreading the gospel doing that what the angels shouted out right through the heavens God reveals his secrets to the angels how much more should he be able to do that to your children boys and girls and where are they what are they doing with what are they busy spreading the gospel God reveals his secrets to the angels how much more should he be able to do that to your children boys and girls and where are they what are they busy spreading the gospel people are just concerned and children are just concerned about education getting them a trick going to university and they end up in the world and it's a troubled people that live in cities in the cities where there is so much evil children are raped in toilets they are not safe anywhere that I think we must really appreciate it if we can live here God reveals his secrets to the angels how much more should he be able to do that to your children boys and girls and where are they what are they doing with what are they busy spreading the gospel Now when we read of the beast here it's not what is used in the Zulu term referring to the Zulu king that is something else Now the beast the Antichrist that's something that will be coming and with his mark and we read of 666 and we hear a lot about it but I don't want to speak about those things coming in the future I want to speak about what we experience today The beast is an animal or an animal like creature a person who is like an animal A monster like the devil himself And a creature that just eats and eats and is greedy more than what one should And you overdo it and everything even with alcohol you get drunk with it and with everything else Immorality, adultery and stealing, murder Rivalry like the people of Israel around the golden calf dancing around it, it can even be sport which has become your idol He who receives the mark of the beast will not be forgiven in this world or in the world to come And that mark And that mark is on the forehead and that is your mind, what has been implanted on your mind, what are your thoughts, those evil thoughts They speak, they speak about who you are and Paul even said I wish I could see your face that I could see where you stand because he could read something in their faces So it's that mark, that imprint that is made as Dr. Albi shared with us yesterday, that beast like nature that one can see in a person And that mark is on the forehead and that is your mind, what has been implanted on your mind, what are your thoughts, those evil thoughts And if you look at a person you don't see the glory of God but you see this beast like nature in him That evil, the work of demons, not of the angels but of the demons, yet some will come to you as an angel of light but if you look carefully you will see it's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing And even children they don't respect or obey or honor their parents, there is no respect whatsoever, why because they are the offspring of the devil They toy toy, they fight, they cannot bow, they've got a hard head And then the mark is The mark is put on the hand as well, on the forehead your thoughts, that which you think about and then also on the hand the things you do And you can see when a person has been there, what he's done, you can see what happens while he's there, how the beast is at work while that hand is at work And when it goes again you see how now it's stopped And when it goes again you see how now it's stopped Maybe you say I can't wait to get out of school then I'm free to do what I want or maybe you say oh maybe one day I'll think about this, maybe one day I'll turn to the Lord No it says now you must do that, right now, you shouldn't even leave this place without having an experience like Moses at the burning bush If you don't do it, listen to what the word says And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever They have no rest, day or night This is a serious matter, parent what would you feel if you saw your child in that situation If they can't come and tell you dad look what God has told me, just look what God has revealed to me I would like to go to the Christians and tell them this They talk about everything else, worldly things, businesses, come and work here But they can't say come let us work for the Lord You want to work for money, well I want to help my parents, they've got a difficult time Looks nice doesn't it, comes like an angel of light But I ask you is that the will of God, if it's the will of God it will put you aflame for God The fire of God will burn more in you and you'll be a fiery witness of Jesus Christ If not, parents cry, listen to the Lord Jesus, don't cry for me, cry for yourself and cry for your children Stop, turn aside John and Isabel Kuhn left America to go to China as missionaries When they had spent some time in China, they were visited by another missionary who was to conduct services there And then John preached After he had preached, this man called John aside and said, can we just speak alone What did John say? I'm disappointed tonight You've made great progress with the Chinese language That's good But when I heard you last speak I saw and felt the fire of God within you But tonight, all I saw was a Polish language You showed me how well you can speak Chinese, but I didn't see one soul being saved John, have you lost something? Have you lost something? Where's that authority? Where's that fire that was there? After that, he and his wife met together And they tested and searched themselves They prayed Together And the Holy Spirit convicted them of sins And with tears, they confessed their sins Their critical thoughts, they cried because of it They said, oh, I criticized, I had critical thoughts, I had wrong actions to you, my wife, and to others They said, you should look at yourself in the eye and look at the people you criticize So they did away with those things that were stopping the working of the Holy Spirit And God united them in holiness. They say they never again forgot that visit from that servant of the Lord. She says it was the first time in my life that behind the back criticism of another Christian was shown to me to be a terrible sin. Terrible sin. I think I've heard mentioned that hundreds of times, maybe thousands of times. And people still carry on criticizing and gossiping. You blind child, dumb child, and you can't hear, must be demons in you. They left America, their home, their home country. Went to China to do missionary work amongst the Chinese. And she says for the first time in my life, I realized behind the back criticism of another Christian is a terrible sin. And she says it's the most deadly sin that paralyzes the spirit of God and quenches Him when He is longing to pour out His blessing. She says it's the most deadly sin that paralyzes the spirit of God and quenches Him when He is longing to pour out His blessing. It paralyzes the spirit of God and quenches Him when He is longing to pour out His blessing. Now in closing, a young man went to an old woodcutter and asked for a job. The young man looked strong and healthy. The old man gave him an X and he got to the job. The first day he worked hard. And by the end of the day, there was a good pile of logs. The old man was satisfied. The next day he went to work and worked just as hard as the first day. He worked so hard that every limb in his body ached. By the end of the day, he had managed to produce a pile of logs, but it was much smaller than the first day. On the third day, he used every ounce of strength he had. He worked until he had no more strength. By the end of the day, he had just a small pile of wood. That evening, he went to the woodcutter. He told him that he couldn't understand. He's working just as hard as the first day. But each day there was less wood. The woodcutter asked for the X. He drew his thumb across it and asked the young man. When last did you sharpen this X? He replied that he hadn't done it once. The old man gave him a lesson that day that he never forgot. I think the first day when we were here, some are blunt. They're not sharp. Have you been sharpened yesterday? Have you been sharpened today? You can try to work hard, but it doesn't work. Down there, together, we're busy cutting thorn trees. My and those thorns, you'll never forget. They just go right through a big tractor tire. I've got five, just this part. And then it seems as if every thorn has got poison at the end, and it doesn't heal easily. So one has got to be careful how to fell those thorn trees. And then I saw women, I saw men, hitting with their bush knives, hitting with their axes, and it would just do this, do this, do this, maybe fifty times before a twig like this would be cut down. I told the man with the axe, come here, I could do this, I say you can ride on this thing, it's blunt. It's just jumping off the wood. The women come with their bush knives, exactly the same. You've got to be sharp, not blunt. Sharp in your hearing, when it's preached, when God speaks to you. Be sharp like a razor blade. You won't get anywhere spiritually. You'll become the laughing stock of the world. The thorn tree will look at you and say what a fool this man is. Members of CFT, what kind of Christians are you? It's nineteen years. What has happened in these nineteen years? In your life, what could God do through you? Nineteen years, you're getting older, you're getting grey, soon you'll die. Have you fulfilled the commission of Christ? Gone to all the nations, preached the gospel, forgot about everything else? Where even young people say I'm not interested in money, I'm not interested in a job. I want to be busy with that which the angels shouted out while flying through heaven. Christ has spoken to me. It's been nineteen years. You're getting older, you're getting grey, soon you'll die. Have you fulfilled the commission of Christ? Gone to all the nations, preached the gospel, forgot about everything else? Where even young people say I'm not interested in money, I'm not interested in a job. Have you fulfilled the commission of Christ? God has a ear to hear, let him hear. Have you fulfilled the commission of Christ? But if you don't want to hear, well you can go to hell if you want to. But there you will be tormented day and night, forever. Thank you. Let us pray. Thank you Lord for an inspiring message. Thank you Lord that we could sit at thy feet as we prayed in the beginning to hear what thou hast to say. Thou hast challenged us. Are we sharp? Are we on fire for thee? Thou didst ask us when last was that hatchet, that knife sharpened. When last have we cleansed our lives? Oh may it not be empty words which we have heard. But may we be ignited with the fire from heaven. To go out and to preach the gospel that streams of living water may flow that our lives will be worth something for thee. For our families for our congregations for our country for the whole world. May thy blessing Lord Jesus rest upon us and be with us forever more. Amen.