Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 14:7

"and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters." — Revelation 14:7 (ASV)

The first angel announces that there is still hope, for even at this crucial moment in history God is seeking to reclaim the beast followers by issuing a message appealing to the people of the world at this time of judgment to “fear God... and worship him.” That this appeal is called a “gospel” (GK 2295) has raised a question. How is it good news? The intent of the gospel message is that people should fear God and worship him. John is perhaps showing the final fulfillment of Mk 13:10. Moreover, we must never forget that the announcement of divine judgment can never be separated from the proclamation of God’s mercy. The gospel is “eternal” because it announces eternal life .

The reference to the coming of the hour of judgment supports the view that there is chronological progression in Revelation and that not everything described by John is simultaneous . This is the first reference in the book to the “judgment [GK 3213] of God” (16:7; 18:10; 19:2), though the “wrath” of God, which appears to be a synonymous term (v.19), has been mentioned earlier (6:16–17; 11:18; 14:8, 10; 15:1; cf. 16:1, 19; 18:3; 19:15).