Ever wonder what God’s “State of the Union” would be?  The President addressed both houses of Congress and the nation Monday evening, delivering his seventh and final State of the Union address.  Fifty-three minutes of speech interrupted seventy times by applause—both partisan and bipartisan.  There were no spectacular pronouncements or announcements, just the last review, pundits suggested, of a presidency and administration laying out its final agenda before becoming eclipsed by the election of a successor.  So what if God took the podium of earth and gave an address?  No doubt there would be plenty of partisan applause- or amen-bursts for him, too.  And no doubt it would garner global attention.  But how would his review of the past read, and how would his agenda for the future play?  And would he need fifty-three minutes?  The Apocalypse, amazingly enough, actually captures God’s final address-appeal to earth.  While it doesn’t describe him at the podium of a government house, it portrays his global address as three angel beings streaking across the earth heavens, each with a passionate pronouncement and appeal.  Combined they are clearly the divine State of the Union for earth’s populace in its final generation. “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’” (Revelation 14:6, 7 NKJV).   And behind the first angel appears a second pronouncing the fall of “ Babylon the Great.”  And on his heels flies a third angel with the urgent warning for earth inhabitants to resist the “mark of the beast.”  And the summation of their combined messages is a description of God’s partisan loyalists at the end:  “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NRSV).   

And did you catch the first angel’s appeal, “Worship the Creator!”  Because wouldn’t you know it, the issue of a divine Creator with his seventh-day Sabbath will take center stage on earth just before his return.  No wonder the Creator’s partisan loyal supporters are described the way they are!  Because as we saw Monday evening, when you’re loyal to your Leader, you’ll stand to your feet even if you’re the only one applauding.