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FACTS OF THE FUTURE |
THE FUTURE WITHOUT ILLUSIONS
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Many of these events are clearly prophesied in the Bible |
In recent years the world witnessed one disaster after another. Droughts,
floods, devastating cyclones and earthquakes have followed each other in steady
succession. Thousands lost their lives by dreadful accidents on land, sea and in
the air; while millions more are starving to death, nations like Brazil and
Mexico are bankrupt, unable to repay their debts. Wars, national uprisings,
population explosion and the continual destruction of nature causes mankind to
look fearfully into the future. Many of these events are clearly
prophesied in the Bible 
(Matt 24:4-31; Luke 21:25-28; Rev 6:12-17;16;17;18). God always has
warned the world of coming judgments, which were the results of their
ungodliness (Isa 24:5-20; 46:9-10; Am 3:7; Rev 1:1).
LESSONS
FROM THE PAST
For example, God told Noah of the coming flood, Abraham and Lot of the future
destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Moses of the plagues of
Egypt. These events were recorded for us today as a warning to help us
understand clearly that all prophecies recorded in the Bible have met their
fulfillment and will come to pass in the future. (1Cor 10:6-12; 2Pet 2:5-9; Heb
4:11). Therefore, we find God's urgent warning message to the last generation,
represented by
THE MESSAGE OF THE THREE ANGELS
which we find in Revelation, chapter 14, written by John the Revelator. This is the last call which God is making to all people before the second coming of Jesus Christ as King and Judge. It contains the most serious warning of coming judgments to be found in scripture:
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How can we avoid worshipping the Beast or receiving its Mark if we don't know who or what the Beast and its Image is? |
This warning is of vital importance to every person! But how can we avoid
worshipping the Beast or receiving its Mark if we don't know who or what the
Beast and its Image is? The lack of knowledge in this area has fatal
consequences. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hos 4:6, compare
Isa 29: 13-14).
However, God has promised understanding to the upright (Prov
2:1-7; Dan 12:4,10; Matt7: 7-8).
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and
live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: for why will ye die, O house of
Israel?" Eze 33:11 (compare 2Pet 3:10-11; Mal 3:18;
4:1,2).
What is the meaning of that Beast with that
unique Mark?
Before we discuss the Beast itself we must understand the historical
background preceding the Beast. The best place to begin is in the book of
Daniel, which deals greatly with prophecy, from the 6th century B.C. down to the
end of time.
The interpretation of the symbols used in Bible prophecy has
not been left to human guesswork. Prophecy is history written in advance. The
Bible itself gives us the key of understanding (2Pet 1:20).
A
beast in prophecy symbolizes a king or a kingdom. This is
clearly taught in Dan 7:17,23: "These great beasts are four
kings .... The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon
earth..."
In Dan 7:3 is written: "And four
great beasts came up from the sea...".
"Sea" or
"Water" represents "peoples and multitudes
and nations and tongues." Rev 17:15 (compare Isa 8:7).
In chapter 7 of
Daniel the prophet sees the coming world empires represented as beasts.
A
parallel description we find in Dan 2:27-45 where individual parts of a statue
are symbolizing, in an accurate manner, the future course mankind will take .
THE LION
"The
first was like a lion..." Dan 7:4 (compare Dan 2:37,38). This refers to
the Babylonian world empire (608-538 BC),
which reigned supreme during Daniel's time. In the Pergamon Museum of Berlin you
can still admire the winged lion as a historical witness of that period of
time.
THE BEAR
"And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised
up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the
teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh." Dan
7:5. This beast has the same meaning as the breast and arms of silver in Dan
2:32,39. It represents the power of the two empires of Media and
Persia, who replaced the Babylonian empire (538-331
BC). It was a dual monarchy with the Medes ruling first, then later the
Persians. The two arms and the bear raising itself up on one side emphasizes
this aspect of prophecy. The one part would be stronger than the other. The
three ribs represented the nations of Babylon, Lydia and Egypt that were
conquered by Medo-Persia.
THE LEOPARD
"After this I beheld,
and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a
fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it." Dan
7:6. This beast also finds its counterpart in Dan 2:32,39. It was the
Grecian empire (331-168 BC), Alexander the
Great which overthrew the Persians, and when he died his kingdom was divided
into four parts, as symbolized by the four heads. (Macedonia, Thrace, Syria and
Egypt).
THE FOURTH BEAST
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast,
dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it
devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and
it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten
horns." Dan 7:7. Again we find this beast in Dan 2:33,40. The fourth
empire that followed the Grecian empire was the Roman empire
(168 BC-476 AD). It was so very different from all the other
beasts that Daniel saw in vision that he was unable to describe it. The ten
horns in Dan 7:24 represent "ten kings that shall arise out
of this kingdom". It is a historical fact that the Roman empire fell in
476 AD, and in its place 10 new kingdoms came up which are the ten germanic
tribes that make up today's European states. Parallel to Dan 7:7 we find that in
Dan 2:41,42 these were symbolized by the ten toes. These were the following
tribes: 1. Alemanni (Germany), 2. Franks (France), 3. Anglo-Saxons (Great
Britain), 4. Burgundians (Switzerland), 5. Visigoths (Spain), 6. Suevi
(Portugal), 7. Lombards (Italy), 8. Heruli, 9. Vandals, 10. Ostrogoths.
THE LITTLE
HORN
"I considered the horns, and, behold, there
came up among them another little horn, before whom there were
three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold,
in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great
things." Dan 7:8.
The Various Identification Marks of the
Little Horn:
1. It came up "among" the
10 horns (kingdoms), and three of the original 10 horns were uprooted in its
rise to power.
2. In Dan 7:24 it is reported: The little
horn shall rise after the 10 horns.
There is only ONE power
in all history that fits this description. In Rome itself in the very center of
the fractured empire there arose after 476 A.D. the Papacy, the
one-man government of the Catholic Church. In its rise to power three of the
Gothic tribes, (the Heruli, the Vandals and the Ostrogoths),
"were plucked up". By the decree of the east Roman
emperor Justinian (Codex Justinianus) in 533 A.D. the Roman
bishop was installed as the head of all Christian churches. When the last of the
three Arian tribes (the Ostrogoths) resisted this decree in 538
A.D. they were conquered and chased out of Rome by the imperial general
Belisarius. This was also the time that papal Rome fully established its
political power for a prophesied period. (See later
explanation).
3. In Dan 7: 25 it says
that he "will wear out the saints of the most High",
which is referring to the great persecution of the Christians. No reader of
history will deny that this statement, too, found its fulfillment in the papacy.
The dreadful persecutions of the Dark Ages (the stake, the burning of heretics,
the crusades) are well known and have indeed blackened the pages of history.
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The papal system changed the law of God, the 10 commandments |
4. Further, it states: "he will think to
change times and laws...." The papal system actually changed the
law of God, the 10 commandments: It removed the second commandment from
the catechism, which prohibits the worship of images. It also changed the fourth
commandment, the keeping of the Sabbath (the only commandment dealing with time), by moving God's day of rest from the seventh day to
the first day of the week. (compare 2Thess 2:3-4; Ps 94:20).He changed the
"time" of worship. A false day of worship was set up.
Instead
of the original, unchangeable Sabbath of the 7th
day (see Ex 20:8-11; 31:13,16,17; Eze 20:12; Isa 56:2,3,6,7;Ps
89:35;Heb 4:1-11; Jas 2:10), which was kept by Christ and the apostles (Luke
4:16; Matt 24:20; Acts 13:42; Heb 4:10-11), the first day of
the week (the pagan "day of the sun") was set up, which God never commanded to
be kept holy. He had warned his people not to accept this day of worship (Rev
14:9-11;16:2;19:20; see Eze 8:16-18).
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Instead of the original, unchangeable Sabbath of the 7th day, the first day of the week was set up |
5. "And there was given unto him a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies... And he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that
dwell in heaven." Rev 13:5-6 (compare Dan 7:8,25; 11:36; 2Thes 2:3-4).
How does the Bible define blasphemy? During a plot against Jesus he was accused
of blasphemy "...because that thou, being a man,
makest thyself God" John 10:33. Another type of
blasphemy we find in Luke 5:21: "Who is this which speaketh
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" Both
forms of the mentioned blasphemies fit the papacy. ("On this earth we are
holding the place of Almighty God" Encyc. Pope Leo XIII, 6-20-1894). Frequently
the pope is called "Holy Father", even though Jesus forbade
this form of address towards any man (Matt 23:9), because it is reserved
exclusively for the Father in Heaven (John 17:11).
6. In
Dan 7:25; 12:7 and Rev 12:14, even the period of the papal supremacy is being
prophesied as three and a half times in Rev 11:2, as
42 months in Rev 13:5, and as 1260 days in Rev 11:3 and 12:6 respectively.
The
biblical measurement for prophesied periods as 1 day
equaling 1 year (Ez 4:6 and Num 14:34) makes it plain that in all these
references it is referring to the same period of time of 1260 actual years. One
"time" by their understanding was meant to mean one year. In those days they
calculated in lunar years of 360 days per year. One lunar month consisted of 30
days (see time of flood in Gen 7:11,24; 8:4 - here are 150 days 5 months).
Accordingly we find that 3 1/2 times (3 1/2 years) multiplied by twelve months
equals 42 months, and 42 months multiplied by 30 days equals 1260 days, or 1260
actual years in history.We find that this prophesied time period found its
actual fulfillment in the history of the papacy. The final destruction of the
East Gothic Empire around 538 AD, (which was the last
power, or "Horn", that withstood Rome), is generally being understood as the
beginning of the political dominating position of the papacy. When we start
counting 1260 years from this period of history we
arrive at the year 1798 AD. Exactly during this year
Pope Pius VI was made captive under the leadership of the French general
Berthiér. Pope Pius VI died in prison. The following prediction was fulfilled:
"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into
captivity." Rev 13:10 (Concordance N.T.). Never again to this date had
the papacy such clear supremacy and influence. A democratic constitution was
established, and Rome became a republic, and the political power of Rome came to
an end - exactly after 1260 years, as prophecy had foretold it.
In Rev
13:1-10, the history of the papal power is briefly recorded as it arose out of
the pagan Roman empire, as it reigned for 1260 years, and in the end received a
deadly wound.
7. In Rev 13:3 it says: "And I saw one
of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." This shows
clearly that this power will exist until the return of Christ. (Compare Dan
7:21-22).
8. During the time of the deadly wound and the
regaining of its power, another beast comes to view: "And I
beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a
lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first
beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship
the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." Rev 13:11-12.
Which power is being described?
| The Symbols: | The Meaning: |
| 1. Arises out of the earth. Rev 13:11 | 1. Arises in some new or sparsely populated land. |
| 2. Arises about the time the sea beast is falling. (1798 AD, Rev 13:1,3,10) | 2. Grows into a nation about the time of Papal overthrow (1763-1800) |
| 3. Has two lamb-like horns (Rev 13:11) | 3. Two Christ-like principles give it strength (civil and religious liberty) |
| 4. Has no crowns on the horns (Rev 13:11) | 4. Not a monarchy - some form of republic |
| 5. Exercises power equal to the first beast (Rev 13:12) | 5. Becomes a formidable, if not supreme, world power. |
Only one power in history meets these five
prophetic specifications, namely the United States of America,
which united during the years of 1763-1800. We see from
Rev 13:11-18, that it began with a humble nature, but it will
grow to be a dominating world power at the time of the end. It is foretold that
America will make an "Image to the Beast", that will
force mankind to "worship" the Beast whose wound was
healed. This Image is an exact copy of what the papacy was during its 1260 year
rule. This described worship shows clearly that it is referring to a
religious - political power.
In Dan
3:5,10,14,18,28 it is clearly taught that religious reverence of human
images and power symbols are equal to idolatry and are in contradiction to the
second commandment. (Ex 20:4-6).
Sunday worship is a sign of
power, a sign of the papal authority, to substitute their own laws (See below under catholic authority from their own
sources!).
Prophecy reveals that America will force Sunday
observance ("Mark of the Beast) by setting up an "Image".
This Image
is nothing else but apostate Protestantism, an ecumenical union of churches,
which will unite with the Government, to enforce religious laws. The
whole world will obey the law of Sunday sacredness. (See the book "The National
Sunday Law".) It is the pride of the papacy to think that it can change the 10
commandments, the law of God. It will be the deciding question of the future, a
decision between life and death (Rev 13:14-15): to obey God or the commandments
of man. (Mal 3:18; 4:1; Rev 16:2).
Please note that at this time America will
do "great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men..." (Think of the Atomic bomb in
1945 over Hiroshima, the Air war of 1991 in Iraq, or the increase of false
revivals of the charismatic movements which started in America.) "...and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of
those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast,
(compare Matt 24:24), saying to them that dwell on the
earth, that they should make an image to the beast, (the papacy) which had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Rev
13:13-14)
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The papacy claims the change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week was her act and is the "Mark" of her authority in religious things |
The papacy claims the change of the Sabbath to the first day of the
week was her act and is the "Mark" of her authority in religious things
(compare Dan 7:25):
"The Sunday is a Catholic
institution, and its claim for sacredness can be defended only on Catholic
authority...In Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end we find not one
single text which justifies the transfer of the weekly public worship service
from the last to the first day of the week." (Catholic Press,
Sidney, 8-25-1900).
"We celebrate Sunday instead of
Saturday, because the Catholic Church has transferred the sacredness from
Saturday to Sunday at the council of Laodicea in the year of 364
AD." ("The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" from P.
Geiermann, the work of Pope Pius X, on 1-25-1910 who received the apostolic
blessing).
"It pleased the church of God to transfer
the celebration of the Sabbath to Sunday." (The published Roman
Catechism, page 247 after the decision of the council of Trent by order of Pope
Pius V.)
"The seventh-day Sabbath was kept by Christ
and the apostles and was celebrated by the first Christians and acknowledged as
such until it was abolished by the Laodicean Council. This council first settled
the question about the Lord's day and forbade the keeping of the seventh-day
Sabbath under the issue of an Anathema (Curse)." (William Prynne, a
famous English Theologian, from his work "Dissertation on Lord's Day", page
32)
"The Sabbath, the best known day of the law, was
changed into the Lord's day. These and others have not ceased because of
instructions received from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to
destroy the law, but to fulfill it), but because due to the authority of the
church they have been changed." (Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon on
1-18-1562, Mansi XXIII, p 526)
"It was the holy
Catholic Church who transferred the rest day from Saturday to Sunday, the first
day the of the week... Which Church does the whole civilized world obey? The
Protestants ...acknowledge great reverence towards the Bible, and yet by
celebrating the Sunday they acknowledge the authority of the Catholic Church.
The Bible says "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy", but the Catholic
Church says: "No, keep the first day of the week holy! - and the entire world
obeys her!" (Pater Enright on 12-15-1889)
"Question: How can you prove that the church has the power to
institute holidays? Answer: By the fact that she has transferred the Sabbath to
Sunday, which the Protestants approve of; an obvious contradiction is when they
strictly keep Sunday and then disregard most of the other holidays, which were
instituted by the same Church." (From "Abridgement of Christian
Doctrine" of H. Tuberville, Donay-Kolleg, 1649, p.
58)
9. In Rev 13:18 we find another sign, the number of
the Beast: "Let him that hath understanding count the number
of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred
threescore and six."
One of the official titles of the pope is: "Vicarius
Filii Dei", which is translated, "Representative of the Son of
God".
In reply to questions from readers, the Catholic newspaper
"Our Sunday Visitor" of 4-18-1915 said: "The engraved
letters on the popes Mitre (or better, Tiara) are as follows: "Vicarius Filii Dei".
- This designation
(which by itself is blasphemy, as it places itself above the Holy Spirit [John
16:12-15; 14:26; Rom 8:26], the true representative of Christ on earth)
is the name of the Beast (Verse 17). According to the
information found in Verses 17 and 18 we find the number of his name, 666. Since in Latin certain letters have
numerical values, we only need to add them up. This is the prophecy which points
out the Antichrist. (Compare 2Thess 2:3-12; 1John 4:3; 2John 7; Rom 8:3). The
Greek word "Antichrist" means someone "that places himself in the position of the Lord's Anointed,
(from anti - instead, and crio - anointing)" (Konkordantes NT, p
371).
In other words, the Antichrist is the alleged
representative of Christ - exactly what the pope claims to be! If the pope would
have to introduce himself in the language of the New Testament he would have to
say: "I am the Antichrist".
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If the pope would have to introduce himself in the language of the New Testament he would have to say: "I am the Antichrist". |
Jesus Christ is the only, and
true High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary after his ascension, "a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man". Heb 8:1-2.
Here Jesus procures for us, daily, the way to the mercy seat of His Father
through His blood (John 14:6,13,14; Rom 8:34), whom we can approach any time by
prayer without the intervention of man, only by faith and trust in the atoning
blood of Christ (Heb 4:14; 5:10; 7:25; Matt 6:6-15).
The teaching of an
added mediation by man or "departed saints" represents a "blasphemy of the
beast" against God and "His
tabernacle" of reconciliation in heaven according to Rev 13:6
(compare Dan 8:11-14 and 12:11 - there this condition is described as a
"transgression towards the sanctuary" or as "the abomination of
desolation").
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
It is not an outward
symbol which is being forced upon every man against his will. If you could
not 
refuse to accept the Mark, then God's warning to not accept it would be
meaningless. Those who refuse to accept the Mark of the Beast (the sign of
authority or affiliation) are described as: "...they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus". Rev 14:12. It is
those that have received the seal of God (Rev 7:3,4; 14:1), and they are
victorious over the Mark of the Beast (Rev 15:2; compare Dan 3). The Mark of the
Beast includes the transgression of God's law (compare Jas 2:10), because the
Seal of God, his sign of authority, is found in the 10 commandments (See below).
The Mark of the Beast will be received on the forehead or in the hand (see
Rev 13:17; 14:9). The forehead symbolizes awareness (belief, knowledge). The
hand symbolizes man's actions, (keeping or not keeping the commandments). This
is also shown in Deut 11:8,18 (compare Deut 13:1-6) where it talks about the
keeping of all 10 commandments.
Whosoever understands the
requirements and the institution of the fourth commandment, of which God states
that this is the sign of his authority, and yet rejects it, and instead honours
what Rome has established as its sign of authority, the same accepts the sign of
affiliation with Rome, the Mark of the Beast. Not until the establishment of a
national Sunday law, when man will have to choose between the commandments of
God and the commandments of men, will those that continue in transgression
receive the Mark of the Beast. For the sincere Sunday keeper applies the
following: "the times of this ignorance God winked
at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30)
THE SEAL OF GOD
A
sign or seal is used with the same meaning in
the Bible. (Rom 4:11).
An official seal must show three things:
The Seal of God is connected with His law and is found in the fourth
commandment (Ex 20:8-11):
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh
day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant,
nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the
sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Compare Ex 31:13,17,18).
Even though
all commandments are of equal importance in the sight of God (Jas 2:10), we find
the mark of the Seal of God only in the fourth commandment:
The Bible speaks of the Sabbath as the everlasting sign of God: "...Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a (eternal) sign between me and you
throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth
sanctify you." Ex 31:13 (Compare Verses 16 and 17; Eze
20:12,20).
Jesus says: "Think not that I am come to
destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For
verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt
5:17,18.
There was someone who came to Jesus and asked him: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal
life?" Jesus answered: "...if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments ...thou shalt not murder, thou shalt
not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness..."
Matt 19:16-19.
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The seventh-day Sabbath is an integral part of God's law, a weekly reminder of Christ as our Creator and Redeemer. |
The seventh-day Sabbath is an integral part of God's law, a weekly
reminder of Christ as our Creator and Redeemer.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God... All things were made by him... And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth". John
1:1-3,14).
Similar to the promised rest of Israel at their entrance into
the land of Canaan, the Sabbath is a reminder of the promised "Sabbath rest" at the entrance into the
heavenly Canaan, (2 Pet 3:13; Heb 11:10,39,40; Rev 21:2), which will take place
at the return of Christ, (Heb 3:10-19; 4:1-11; compare Deut 4:1-2; 1 Cor
10:11-13), after the wandering of 6000
years in the "desert of human history" since the fall of man in
Paradise.
If you go through the trouble of adding the time span for each
mentioned generation recorded in the Bible starting with Adam, you will come up
with a total of about 4000 years arriving at the time of
Christ. (See Atlas of World History, 1990 by K. Thienemanns Press,
Stuttgart-Vienna).
Herewith we can also see clearly that we are
in the completion of the 6th millennium of the history of mankind as
has been foretold by God.
Regarding the return of Christ, the Bible says:
"...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day." (2 Pet 3:8) Do you realize now "...that it is near, even at the doors"? (Matt 24:33)
In
the New Testament, God's people are called the spiritual
Israel, which by faith has received a spiritual circumcision of the
heart. (Compare Col 2:11-12; Rom 2:28-29; Gal 3:6-9,28,29; 5:6; 6:15; Rom 11:25;
1Pet 2:9-10). The new covenant with Christ causes in each person a new creation
through His creative power. By the prophet Jeremiah this very fact was foretold:
"...But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people." Jer 31:31-33.
Consequently God's people will
always uphold His law: "And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev 12:17
The pure woman in prophecy symbolizes a pure church, a harlot a fallen church
(Compare 2Cor 11:2; Eze 16; Rev 17:18).
Now we understand what is
meant by the three angel's messages of Revelation 14:
Will you stand in the Judgment?
The first angel speaks of God's judgment which will take place in heaven
before the return of Christ, (compare Dan 7:9-12;
2Cor 5:10), because it must be decided before his appearing who shall be raised
from the dead to eternal life, and who of the living will be translated at his
appearing. (1 Thess 4:15-17; John 5:27-29; Rev 20:5-6). In addition, the Bible
speaks about a judgment taking place in heaven during the 1000 years after the return of Christ in which all faithful will take
part in sentencing the unbelieving dead and the fallen angels.
(Dan 7:22; 1Cor 6:2-3; Rev
20:4). This sentence will be announced and executed after
the 1000 years at the resurrection of the unbelievers (John 5:29; Rev
20:7-15). The 10 commandments are the unchangeable standard at God's judgment
day. (Rev 11:19; Ps 89:34; Matt 7:21). The same is reflected by the examplary
attitude of Jesus (Phil 2:5; Rom 15:5), of which it says: "I
delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart." Ps
40:8. (Compare John 6:38; 4:34; Ps 40:7-9; Heb 10:9; Luke 22:42).
We pray in
the Lord's prayer: "Thy will be done", but does the
will of God become a reality in our sinful lifestyle? The Bible says: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1John 3:4), and
"The wages of sin is death". (Rom 6:23). Then, when
we hear out of the mouth of the prophet: "Can the Ethiopian
change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are
accustomed to do evil", (Jer 13:23; compare Rom 7:24), when weconsider our own lives, we must
realize that there is no possibility that we, from ourselves, can escape the
judgment of God and the consequent eternal death. God, however, has made a way
of escape for all those that have been under the slavery of Satan. This path,
which the love of God has created, is called "Jesus Christ". "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever, believeth in him, should not 
perish, but have everlasting
life." John 3:16. Golgatha stands as a memorial of this incomprehensible
sacrifice, which was necessary to atone for the transgressions of God's law.
Therefore, we cannot look at sin as something harmless (Rom 6:15). God's offer
of mercy is not a cheap offer. It requires your consent and complete submission
to God. Jesus says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.
In His life,
Jesus has shown us the way to His Father, and the way to eternal life.
How do we receive eternal life through Christ?
Jesus' answer today is the same as in the past: "Keep the commandments ...and follow me!" Matt 19:17,21;
compare 1Pet 2:21-25; Rev 14:4.
Discipleship for us today means that we study
the life of Christ recorded in Holy Scripture (John 5:39; 8:31,32), and that we
obey his words (John 3:36; Heb 5:8,9; 11:8 etc; Jas 4:7; Rom 16:26).
The Holy Spirit will cause the
same reaction in us as in the days of pentecost, when people confessed their
sins and cried: "What must we do?" Peter's answer
was: "Repent!" Acts 2:37-38. At another occasion he
said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out". Acts 3:19. The law of God, just like a mirror
, shows us our defilement and
sins (Rom 4:15; 3:20; 7:7), which Jesus wants to wash away with his atoning
blood. This is the birth of the human love response to God. Jesus, speaking
about the woman that was a sinner, said: "Her sins, which
are many, are forgiven; for she loved much..." Luke 7:47. "We love him, because he first loved us. ...For this is the love
of God (our response), that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 4:19; 5:3. In our love to
Christ we receive from God the power to overcome sin in our lives. "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And ...the Father will give
you another Comforter, ...the Spirit of truth." John 14:15-17. The love
and the strength of the Holy Spirit given to us enables us to overcome sin the
same way as Jesus overcame. (John 15:10; 1John 5:4-5; Rev 3:21).
Through the
incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Phil 2:5-8; John 16:28), we can be
sure that God knows what kind of power He needs to give us to enable us to
fulfill the requirements of God's law and to withstand the temptations of our
weakened fleshly nature. "Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death
, that is,
the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage... Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people." Heb 2:14-18.
We can receive this power, which overcomes sin, only as we
believe (John 6:28,29) in Jesus' examplary righteousness (a sinless life in a
fallen nature. Compare Rom 8:3; Heb 4:15), and as we personally accept in faith
his substitutionary sacrifice (John 3:16; 
1:29).
Jesus did not die for His
own sins. We read: "For he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2Cor 5:21 (Compare 1John 3:5; John 8:46). This will mean that we repent of our
unrighteousness, acknowledge it, and turn from sin (the transgression of God's
law) and obey Him. (Prov 28:13; 1John 1:6-10; 2:4; 3:3-10; 1Pet 2:21; Matt
10:34-39).
Faith and repentance are gifts of God for those who seek them with
an upright heart. God will work in us both of it by his Holy Spirit whenever we
give Him the opportunity. Faith is the result of the proclamation and the study
of the word of God (Rom 10:17).
Jesus said: "Search the scriptures, for in
them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of
me." (John 5:39; compare Luke 24:25-27; John 2:22; Rom 16:26; Acts
17:11,12).
The study of accurately fulfilled divine prophecy, (concerning
world history foretold and the appearance of His Son), will strengthen our faith
in the divine plan of redemption through Jesus Christ and form a secure
foundation for our faith. (2Pet 1:19-21).
For a sincere study of the word of
God, we are promised an unseen divine Teacher: "But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you ...he will guide you into all truth ...thy word is
truth." John 14:26; 16:13; 17:17.
Whosoever rejects God's offer of
mercy and knowingly does not listen to the word of truth, does not read it, and
does not test it, will not receive from God the saving power of faith and will
eventually be among those who are eternally lost. (Jer 6:17-19; 9:12-15; Hos
4:6).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him". James 1:5. Jesus tells us: "Ask, and it shall
be given you... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to
them that ask him?" Matt 7:7,11. So let us ask, as did David: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me." Ps 51:10 (Compare Ps 139:23-24).
Whosoever will sincerely
believe and pray will realize the experience: "I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:13.
Only as we follow Jesus with
a sincere heart, and as we trust Him as our living Redeemer, can we develop a
character like His, and thereby be prepared for His return. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them." Heb 10:16. (Compare Jer 31:33).
Do you remember that the
obedience of man was tested by a fruit in the garden of Eden (the tree of
knowledge of good and evil - Gen 2:16-17). Again, in the last days will the
obedience of man be tested with a special commandment of God (Jas 2:10). Then
the deceptive serpent asked: "Did God really
say...?"
What catastrophic consequences did mankind reap from this
disobedience?! (Gen 3)
Doubt towards a plain command of God is again being
sown into the hearts of mankind in this age by the arch enemy of God suggesting:
"Is God really taking it that serious with the seventh-day
Sabbath?"
When it will be discovered that Sunday observance is
nothing other than a man made commandment, we must be reminded of the words of
Jesus: "Well hath Isaias prophesied of you hypocrites:
...'Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men... Ye reject the commandments of God, that ye may keep your own
tradition." Mark 7:6-9.
Through his prophet Ezekiel God admonishes his
people: "Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers,
neither observe their judgments (traditions), nor
defile yourselves with their idols: I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes,
and keep my judgments, and do them. And hallow my sabbaths; and
they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that
I am the Lord your God." Eze 20:18-20; Jer 9:12,13.
The commandments
of men and their traditions do not free us from the Christian principle: "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29;
4:19.
|
What will your decision be - the Sabbath of the Lord or the papal Sunday? |
What will your decision be - the Sabbath of the Lord or the papal
Sunday? (Jer 10:2; 1Kings 18:21; 1Sam 15:22,23).
The Holy Spirit
admonishes us: "...Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden
not your hearts... For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into
that (sabbath-) rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Heb 4:7,10-11.
Only
those will be redeemed and saved of which the Bible says: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev 14:12.
Terrible
plagues and judgments will soon fall upon mankind who have received the Mark,
the name, or the number of the Beast, or who will worship the Beast and his
Image (who submit to an antichristian, religious-political authority), and who,
by that act, have taken a position against the clear will and warning of God
(Rev 13:16-18; 14:9-11; 16:2; 18; 19:19-21).
This judgment hour message may
cause fear in some. But in reality, it is a message of salvation - a
|
The signs of the times tell us that we are in the very last hour of this earth's history! |
message from a loving God, "not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9)
Every
sincere individual will experience that: "The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Prov 1:7 (Compare Luke 12:4,5; Ex
20:20). Fear is created only by sin. (See Gen 3:10,11). However, after we have
accepted forgiveness through the love of God in Jesus Christ we will experience,
that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear... He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he
first loved us." 1John 4:18-19.
The feeling of being lost is changed
into an assurance of salvation, and the fear of God into respect and love. The
hopelessness is changed into a singleness of purpose, and general fear into a
joyful expectation of the fulfillment of a divine promise. God's offer, the time
for repentance and return, will last only for a little while. Use this time to
seriously examine your own condition and to turn around as the time of probation
will soon end before the return of Christ.
The signs of the times tell us that we are in the very last hour of
this earth's history!
"But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements 
shall melt
with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned
up... be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless." 2Pet 3:10,14. (Compare Isa 55:6-9; Mal 3:17,18; 4:1,2)."Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil." Eccl 12:13-14.
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