God sent a special cryptic message for the very end of the world's history to every nation, tongue, and tribe which includes half a billion Buddhists, 1 billion Hindus, 14 million Jews, 1.6 billion Muslims, and millions more.
Listen to Scott Griswold speak on how to share these messages with people of various religious backgrounds in The Three Angels' Messages for All Nations at the Carolina Camp Meeting (More resources below).
As Home for All Nations serves refugees in Houston and beyond, I get excited because I see how God has placed Seventh-day Adventists in a unique position to reach people of all the major world religions.
Think with me about the connections the three angels’ messages have with their beliefs and practices.
In the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, the first phrase is “Fear God.” This fits a Muslim concept that God is so holy that He ought to be highly respected and obeyed. My Muslim friend was amazed when at a health expo he found out we don’t drink alcohol or eat pork. He was happily surprised that we believe we should obey God’s commandments instead of merely presuming on His mercy and living like the rest of the world.
The next phrase in our message is “give glory to Him.” Remember how 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, you do all to the glory of God!” What do Buddhists think of that? My neighbor in Thailand took seriously her religion’s eightfold noble path, trying to purify her thoughts, motives, words, and actions. She saw our church’s integration of health, devotion to family, wholistic education and heartfelt spirituality. She was drawn to it.
The Hindu has a strong sense of justice. He believes that whatever you sow, you will reap. As we lay out the truths about “the hour of His judgment,” he finds answers that take seriously his deep questions about evil, suffering, and a hope of final justice by a God who will be fair.
And the Jewish believer has so many connections too. The Sabbath rest draws us together. “Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water!”
But the first angel’s message does not merely draw us close in our similarities, it also has deep parts of the everlasting Gospel that people of other religions are searching for. “Fear God” is the call to repent, to turn from sin to the living God. “Give glory to Him” especially means to glory only in the death of Christ as the source of forgiveness. And “worship Him” is the invitation to fully trust in the Creator of the world, who is the only one who can take our selfish hearts and make a new creation. This is the gospel that people of the world is hungry for!
That’s why the second angel’s message calls our friends to come out of any religious system that like Babylon has its sacrifices and ceremonies and priests. No merit needs to be made, no holy person needs to be paid. Jesus is enough! Come out and come to Him!
We also have a third angel’s message. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and many secular and postmodern people stare in amazement and dismay at the Lamblike beast that speaks more and more like a dragon. The politics, the materialistic practices, the worldly culture of the so-called Christian West turn many of them away from even wanting to learn about Jesus. But as we humble ourselves before God we, as Seventh-day Adventists, are able to tell and show people clearly the difference between what they see in professed Christians and the real Christ in all of His beauty. We can, as we depend on Him, be the people who live out in a very loving way, the commandments of God through the faith of Jesus. We will be able to point them to their only source of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus’ death in their place.
Yes, these three angels’ messages are the everlasting gospel for every nation, tribe, tongue, and people! I am so thrilled that they are no longer way on the other side of the ocean. They have moved next door. Refugees from Bhutan and Burma are so happy to be safely in our neighborhoods. Immigrants from India and Pakistan are working right beside us. We get to study with Saudi Arabians in our universities. They’ve come from many countries where we can’t go as missionaries. These are some of those very unreached people groups that Jesus said, “I’m not coming back until they hear this gospel of the kingdom!”
We get to befriend them. We get to reach them. There’s nothing more exciting than sharing the Gospel with someone who’s never had the chance to meet Jesus before!
Will you join me as a missionary in your own city and town?
You can train for this using the resources at this website. Here is a link to the Reach the World Next Door training produced while we were working with ASAP Ministries. The training will show you how to find and truly help refugees and international students. It will equip you to share your faith with people of other world religions. It will lead you to disciple the nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Everything you need is there for free. You can do it with your family. You can do it in a small group with your friends. You can do it in person or meet as a group online.
They’re waiting for us now. Come. Let’s be a Home for All Nations!
Go deeper into an article that carefully shows the three angels' messages connections between Seventh-day Adventist Christians and world religions, along with distinct differences worth sharing. "The Three Angels' Messages and World Religions."
Here is also a short summary video previously made while working for ASAP Ministries. The Three Angels' Messages for World Religions.
Explore the messages deeply in various websites under the My Language My Life section: "Predictions and the End of the World."
