The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the First Reading for the Commemoration of the Lutheran Reformation (Reformation Day), Revelation 14:6–7, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
II. Warnings and Admonitions for pure church servants and true confessors against the Antichrist. (v. 6–13)
Annotated Text
6. And I saw an * angel ** flying in the midst of the heavens (because God the Lord not only raised up several faithful teachers during the continuous reign of the Antichrist who rebuked the antichristian abominations and admonished men to repentance and conversion, but also at the appointed time revealed the Antichrist and attacked his kingdom with power; as various angels are introduced, of whom the first flies through the midst of heaven, thereby is indicate the swift course of the Gospel, that after the revealing of the Antichrist, God the Lord will cause the Gospel to resound in a short time among all kinds of peoples, that He will also cause the Gospel to be preached publicly and without timidity against the Antichrist, from which it man then be easily inferred that by this angel the blessèd instrument whose ministry God the Lord especially used for the revelation of the Antichrist and the assault of his kingdom is signified, namely, the blessèd Luther), *** who had an eternal Gospel (he did not preach human statutes, but rather the pure Gospel, which is called eternal because that which is proclaimed therein was determined in the counsel of God from eternity and revealed soon after the beginning of the world [Genesis 3:15]; because the Gospel proclaims and sets before us eternal heavenly goods, it will remain in **** eternity, and cannot be suppressed by any power of the enemies), to proclaim to those who sit and dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and race, and language, and people (that no one may be able to excuse himself with ignorance),
* Revelation 8:13 (Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 16:60; Daniel 9:24; Hebrews 5:9)
** Greek: Alternatively, “another angel”
*** Others understand only Luther by the third angel, and under the preceding angels Peter Waldo [AD 1140–1218] and Jan Hus [AD 1369–1415].
**** Not as though the Gospel ought to be preached eternally, even to the damned, and be of benefit to them, but rather [it will remain eternally] with respect to its fruit, which the children of God shall enjoy forever, just as the priesthood and redemption of Christ are also called eternal (Hebrews 9:12).
7. and he said with a great voice, “Fear God (not the Antichrist and his human statutes), and * give Him the honor (that He alone is your Savior and Redeemer, and that you cannot be saved through the merit of your works); for the time of His judgement is come (on which day each must give an account for his faith and doings), and pray to Him (neither the mute idols, nor the dead saints, but God alone) who (is the true God) ** who made heaven and earth, the sea, and the springs of water.
* Deuteronomy 32:3
** Acts 14:15ff. (Acts 4:24)
Useful Applications
[There are no applications listed for v. 6–7 in the text. AJB]
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 