The proclamation of The Third Angel’s Message is based upon the closing Sanctuary work of our High Priest, who entered the most Holy Place at the end of 2300 days prophecy in 1844.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament; Revelation 11:19.
The Time Of The Third Angels Message – Part 1
Question: What four kingdoms are represented in Daniel 2:31-40 and Daniel 7:1-7?
Answer:
- Babylon – Daniel 2:37, 38
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all.
Thou art this head of gold.
- Medo-Persia – Daniel 5:28
Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
- Grecia – Daniel 8:20, 21
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
- Rome – Luke 2:1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
Question: What is represented by the ten horns upon the fourth beast?
Answer: Daniel 7:7, 24.
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.
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Question: To what date did the kingdom of Babylon continue?
Answer: B. C. 538
Question: To what date did Medo-Persia continue?
Answer: B. C. 331
Question: Grecia?
Answer: B. C. 168
Question: Rome?
Answer: A. D. 476
Question: When Rome fell, what stood in its place?
Answer: Daniel 7:24, first part.
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Question: What was to arise after them and yet among them?
Answer: Daniel 7:8, first part, and verse 24, last part.
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 another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Question: What was the nature of this power as compared with the ten?
Answer: Daniel 7:20, last clause.
even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Question: What else was peculiar about the horn?
Answer: Daniel 7:8 and 20, last clause of each.
and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Question: What did he both speak and do?
Answer: Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Question: What power of all the earth has done to the greatest extent what is here said?
Answer: The Papacy.
Question: Upon the rise of this horn, what was done with three of the ten?
Answer: Daniel 7:8, 20.
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.
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Question: What three of the ten kingdoms fell?
Answer: The Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. See Gibbon, chap. 39, par. 6-8; 41:7-12, 21-28.
Question: At what dates?
Answer: Heruli A. D. 493; Vandals 534; Ostrogoths 538.
Question: What then is the date of the-establishment of the Papacy ?
Answer: A. D. 538 is the date of the establishment of the Papacy.
Question: How long was the Papacy to have power over the saints, times, and laws ?
Answer: Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Question: Literally what length of time is this?
Answer: Revelation 12:14, 6; Ezekiel 4:4-6. See Note 1.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
Question: Beginning as it did, in A. D. 538, when should it end?
Answer: A. D. 1798.
Question: What historical event marks the end of the 1260 years of Papal supremacy ?
Answer: The French army under Berthier abolished the Papacy in Rome. Moreover, proclaimed a republic there, A. D. 1798, and carried Pope Pius VI a captive from place to place till he died at Valence, France, August 28, 1799. See Note 2
Notes:
Note 1. Revelation 12:14 uses the same expression as that in Daniel 7:25. It reads – To the women were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness… for a time, and times, and half a time;
And verse 6 says: The woman fled into the wilderness…that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. These texts make it positive that the words time, and times, and the dividing of time signify 1260 days.
But as these days are used as symbols, each day signifies a year.
The Lord told Ezekiel that in conducting a symbolical siege against Jerusalem, he should lie on his left side three hundred and ninety days; and on his right side forty days. This was to be a sign to the house of Israel and Judah.
The Lord had laid upon him, and by this signified to them, the years of their iniquity according to the number of the days, because, I have appointed thee each day for a year.
It is the appointment of God, that when days are used in connection with symbols, each day shall stand for a year.
Note 2. In A. D. 1797, Napoleon was ordered by the French Directory to destroy the Papal Government. The Pope was helpless, but instead of obeying orders, Napoleon, on his own responsibility, made peace with him, and returned to France. The words of the history are as follows:
“Bonaparte now invaded the Papal territories and rapidly overran them. He had orders from the Directory to destroy the Papal Government, but, on his own responsibility, he disregarded these instructions, and concluded with the helpless Pontiff the peace of Talentino on the 19th of February, 1797.
“Upon the return of Bonaparte from Italy, General Berthier was ordered by the Directory to carry out its instructions respecting the Papal Government, which Bonaparte had declined to execute. The people of the Papal States were thoroughly discontented.
Berthier marched to Rome and was received as a deliverer. He proclaimed the restoration of the Roman Republic; made Pope Pius VI a prisoner, and stripped him of all his property…and removed him to France, where he was detained in captivity.”
Pictorial History of the World, p. 756. The Pope was just as helpless in 1797 as he was in 1798, but 1797 was too early; the time did not expire till 1798; and the Scriptures cannot be broken. John 10:35.
The Time Of The Message – Part 2
Question: In this dealing with the Papacy what additional prophecies were fulfilled?
Answer: Revelation 13:3, first part and Revelation 13:10
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death;
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Question: How may we know that this prophecy relates to the same power?
Answer: Compare Daniel 7:4-8 with Revelation 13:1, 2; and Daniel 7:8, 25 with Revelation 13:5-7.
Question: Was this captivity and deadly wound to put a total end to the Papacy?
Answer: Revelation 13:3.
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.
Question: When was it that this captivity occurred?
Answer: A. D. 1798.
Question: At that time what else did the prophet see?
Answer: Revelation 13:11.
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.
Question: Is it for us to know what this means?
Answer: Deuteronomy 29:29.
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Question: Is this a revelation?
Answer: Revelation 1:1, 3.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Question: What part of the world was represented by the symbol of the leopard?
Answer: Grecia.
Question: What by the bear?
Answer: Media and Persia.
Question: What by the lion?
Answer: Babylonia.
Question: What by the beast and the ten horns?
Answer: Western Europe and North Africa.
Question: Then as the characteristics of all these are found in the first beast of Revelation 13, what
parts of the world are covered by the description of this first beast ?
Answer: The principal parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Question: Where was this other beast seen coming up?
Answer: Revelation 13:11.
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.
Question: Where had the first beast risen?
Answer: Revelation 13:1.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Question: What is meant by sea when used as a symbol?
Answer: Revelation 17:15.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Question: What then is represented by a power coming up out of the sea?
Answer:
In his vision of the seventh chapter, Daniel says: “The four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea.”
These four great beasts represented the four great kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Each of these arose by overthrowing the one that had gone before it.
And as a symbolic sea represents peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues, it is easy to understand how these great powers came up from the sea.
Question: What then is represented by a power coming out of the earth?
Answer:
It is also plain that a power symbolized as coming up out of the earth would arise from a condition of things the opposite of that represented as the sea; that is, from a place where, before it, there had not been peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Question: In 1798, how much of Europe, Asia and Africa, was occupied by peoples, multitudes, and established and organized nations?
Answer: All the known parts of them.
Question: How long had it been so ?
Answer: For ages.
Question: Where must this other beast arise?
Answer: In the Western Continent.
Question: Did the dominion of the first beast or any of the ten kingdoms extend to any part of the Western Continent in 1798?
Answer: It did. Spain, France, Portugal, and Britain then owned all except the possessions of what had been the thirteen British colonies, but which then formed the United States of America.
Question: What position then did the Government of the United States occupy in 1798?
Answer: It was the only independent nation then on the earth, which had arisen where there had not formerly been for ages, peoples, multitudes, and established nations.
Question: What then is the inevitable conclusion ?
Answer: That the United States Government is the power signified in the prophecy of Revelation 13:11-17.
Question: What is to be said to the people of this Government?
Answer: Revelation 13:14, last part.
Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Question: When they shall have made an image to the beast, what will he do?
Answer: Revelation 13:11, 15.
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 had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
The Beasts
Question: What relation does the third angel of Revelation 14:9 bear to the angel of verses 6, 7?
Answer:
He followed them, or went with them. That the word follow means to go with, see Matthew 4: 20, 22; Mark 2: 14. The first message leads out, the others follow with, as the disciples followed Jesus.
Question: Against what does the third angel warn us?
Answer: Revelation 14:9.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Question:
What does it shows the importance of heeding this warning?
Answer: Revelation 14:10, 11.
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Question: Where is the beast, against which we are warned, brought to view?
Answer: Revelation 13:1-10.
Question: What prophetic symbol is parallel to this?
Answer: The little horn of Daniel 7. They arise in the same territory, do the same work, possess the same character, and continue the same length of time. They are, therefore, identical.
Question: What four kingdoms are symbolized in Daniel previous to the rise of the little horn?
Answer: Daniel 7:1-7.
Question: How were these symbols represented in the beast of Revelation 13?
Answer: Revelation 13:2.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Question: What eleven distinct specifications are given in the prophecy concerning the little horn?
Answer:
It was to:
- Arise in a ten-divisioned kingdom. Daniel 7:8 – 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;
- Be different in nature and character from the others. Daniel 7:24 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
It would:
- Cause the overthrow of three kings. Daniel 7:8, 20, 24 – Before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots…before whom three fell…and he shall subdue three kings.
- Possess great shrewdness and foresight (eyes like those of man). Daniel 7:8, 20 – In this horn were eyes like the eyes of man.
- Be strong and vigorous (stout). Daniel 7:20 – Whose look was more stout than his fellows.
- Be a blaspheming, assuming power. Daniel7:8,11, 20, 25 – I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake…A mouth that spake very great things…And he shall speak great words against the most High.
- Be a persecuting power. Daniel 7:21, 25 – The same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them…And shall wear out the saints of the most High.
- Presume to change God’s law. Daniel 7:25 – Think to change times and laws;
- Be a persecuting power for three and one-half prophetic years – which is 1,260 literal years. Daniel7:25 – And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
- Then lose its persecuting power, and shortly after its own dominion. Daniel 7:25, 26 – But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
- Its power to persecute would be restored, for it would make war on the saints till the end. Daniel:21, 22 –I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High;
Question: How many of these specifications do we find in connection with the beast of Revelation 13:1-10?
Answer: Specification number:
1 – ten horns
6 – blasphemous
7 – persecuting
8 – causing false worship through a changed law
9 – 42 months
10 – deadly wound
11 – deadly wound healed.
Question: In what power or system alone are all these specifications met?
Answer: In that system known as the Papacy. See note 2.
Question: What is represented by all these beast kingdoms?
Answer: Church and state governments, or persecuting powers.
Question: What constitutes a persecuting power?
Answer: There must in some way be a union of church and state, or of religion with the state. A religious organization apart from civil power cannot persecute; and a civil power apart from religion will not persecute. The union of the two in active operation always results in injustice and oppression.
Question: When did the Papacy secure the power to persecute?
Answer: A. D. 538, when the last kingdom which opposed Rome’s assumptions, was plucked up, and the bishop of Rome was made, by decree of Justinian, head of all the churches and true and only corrector of heretics. By this twofold means it was established. The emperor had decreed it in A. D. 533 (see “Croly on the Apocalypse,” pp. 167-171); and when the last of the three opposers – the Ostrogoths, was overthrown, the Papacy began its career as a persecuting power.
Question: Beginning in A. D. 538, when would the 1,260 days (years) end?
Answer: 1798.
Question: What event marked their close?
Answer: Under General Berthier, an officer acting under the French directory, the Papacy was abolished in 1798, Rome was proclaimed a republic, and Pope Pius VI. was taken captive, dying at Valence, France, August 29, 1799.
Question: What scripture was thus fulfilled?
Answer: Revelation 13:3, 10 – And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death…He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword;
Question: Did this act of France affect the ecclesiastical or religious organization of the Papacy?
Answer: No. It removed the head for a while; but soon after the death of Pius VI., the cardinals met and elected, March 14, 1800, Barnabas Chiaromonti to the papal see, and, under the name of Pius VII; “within a few months of his election, he entered his capital as a sovereign prince.” See “Murdock’s Mosheim,” sketch of 19 century, par. 1. But papal rule over other countries was broken. The blow took away his power to persecute. He was nolonger acknowledged by the powers of Europe “head over all the churches and corrector of heretics.”
Overview
The papal power grew out of the working of the mystery of iniquity, the assumptions of the bishop of Rome particularly, and the union of the apostate church – Babylon with the kings of earth.
This work began in Constantine’s time, but the Papacy as a distinct power was developed later. Note the fulfillment of the prophetic specifications.
(1) It arose in Rome in her divided state, when just ten kingdoms existed. The last of the ten kingdoms arose in 476.
(2) It was diverse in nature. The other powers were civil powers, but the Papacy was civil and religious combined, or an ecclesiastical power having civil authority.
(3) Because of it three kingdoms were plucked up – the Heruli, 493; Vandals, 534; and Ostrogoths, 538.
(4) The nature of the ten kingdoms was that of a beast, blind to the future, represented by natural horns; but the little horn had not only eyes, but man’s eyes in a beast’s horn, showing great shrewdness and foresight. This has been prominently true of the Papacy. It has plotted and planned for the centuries to come, while other nations have looked only to the present.
(5) More stout than his fellows. And this also is true of the Papacy. Other governments and kingdoms have fallen, but the Papacy remains.
(6) And truly it has been a blasphemous power, assuming God’s prerogatives, and perverting his word.
(7) It has put to death millions of the people of God, those adjudged to be heretics.
(8) Think to change the times and the law. It has done this with respect to the fourth commandment.
(9) Time is one year; times – two years; half a time – half a year, or, as in Revelation 13: 5 – 42 months, at 30 days to the month; Bible reckoning – 1, 260 days, or years (Ezekiel 4: 6), beginning A. D. 538 and ending in 1798.
(10) In 1798 it lost its power to persecute, and in 1870 its last vestige of territorial dominion, or civil authority, passed from under its control. All these have been fulfilled in the Papacy and in no other power.
(11)The last specification, the Lord declares, will be fulfilled, and the Papacy will be a persecutor to the end. See Revelation 13:3; Daniel 7:21, 22; 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
An Image Of The Beast
Question: When a backslidden and divided church unites with the state, what always results?
Answer: Revelation 14:8.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Question: What warning does the Lord in love still send to His people?
Answer: Revelation 14:9-12.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Question: Against what three things does this message warn?
Answer: Revelation 14:9.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand;
Question: What have we found the beast to be?
Answer: The Papacy. Bear in mind that the beast is not the:
- Roman Catholic Church as such
- Papacy as meaning the church.
It is the union of that church with the state.
Question: What occurred in 1798?
Answer: Revelation 13:3, 11.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death…And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth;
Question: Was this to be the end of the first beast power?
Answer: No. Revelation 13:3.
And his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Question: What scriptures show that it will be an active, living oppressor of God’s people in the last great conflict?
Answer: Revelation 14:9-12; 13:14; 15:2; 16:10; 19:19, 20.
Question: What power did the prophet see arising when the papal beast went into captivity – A. D. 1798?
Answer: Revelation 13:11.
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.
Question: What prominent characteristics did the beast possess?
Answer: Revelation 13:11, last part.
And he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Question: Of what are a lamb and a dragon symbols?
Answer: Revelation 5:6; 12:9.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Question: What would the two horns symbolize?
Answer: Horn is a symbol of exaltation, power, and honor. I Samuel 2:1, 10.
My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
They would here indicate the two leading features in the government represented by the beast, which are Christian in origin, and which give the government its prominence and power.
Question: What would be represented by speaking like a dragon?
Answer: Revelation 12:13.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Beast represents government. A government speaks through its laws. Speaking like a dragon would therefore be to issue persecuting laws against the people of God.
Question: To what, then, in the character of a government must the symbol of the two-horned beast apply?
Answer: To a government just rising to power and prominence in 1798, which held professedly to two prominent Christian features that gave it prominence, and which, notwithstanding this, shall become a persecutor.
Question: What two characteristics of Christianity apart from its spiritual power give it prominence in the world?
Answer:
The absolute:
- equality of mankind – Acts 17:26 – And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
- religious liberty or freedom to believe or not believe without coercion – John 12:47 – And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Question: In what government alone can and do these specifications find fulfillment?
Answer: In the United States of America.
Question: How great power does the two-horned beast exercise, and for what purpose is it used?
Answer: Revelation 13:12.
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.
Question: What was to be manifest in his territory, and in what fulfilled?
Answer: Revelation 13:13, 14.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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;
Question: What would these deceptions lead the people to do?
Answer: Revelation 13:14 last part.
Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Question: What did the first beast represent, and what elements constituted it?
Question: In what, then, would an image to the beast consist?
Answer: In a union of church and state, or the church using the state for the furtherance of her own cause.
Question: What law was to follow the making of the image?
Answer: Revelation 13:15.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Question: What would be fulfilled in this?
Answer: Revelation 13:11 last clause.
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.
Image and mark
Question: What is an image to the beast?
Answer: A union of church and state, by which the church will use the state to accomplish its own objects.
Question: What have we already seen accomplished in this direction?
Answer: The churches in various ways have brought pressure to bear upon the government until the government has committed itself in its several departments to the principle of religious legislation.
Question: When governments legislate on the things of God, what are logically considered the highest laws and the most heinous crimes?
Answer: The laws relating to man’s duty to God and their violation.
Question: With what is the violation of the highest laws generally punished?
Answer: With death.
Question: What part of the prophecy would be thus easily fulfilled ?
Answer: Revelation 13:15.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
The mark of the beast
Question: Against what does God warn us besides the beast and his worship?
Answer: Revelation 14:9.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand;
Question: What must the mark of the beast be?
Answer: The badge of his authority, the sign of his power.
Question: What does the mark show one who receives it to be?
Answer: A servant. It was a custom anciently to brand slaves with the mark of their master, as people now brand cattle.
Question: Of whom would the mark of the beast show people to be worshipers?
Answer: Revelation 13:12.
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.
Question: In worshiping the beast whom would we serve?
Answer: To worship the beast is to serve him instead of God. The real essence of worship is service. Matthew 4:10.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Question: What would therefore mark the difference between the worshipers of the beast and the worshipers of God?
Answer: The difference in the service rendered.
Question: What would regulate the conduct of the two classes of servants?
Answer: The law and spirit of their respective governments.
Question: What is the rule of God’s government?
Answer: Ecclesiastes 12:13.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Question: What have we found to be the sign, mark, or badge of His power?
Answer: The Seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord.
Question: What would therefore be the mark or badge of the rival worship, the worship of the beast?
Answer: The rival sabbath, or that part of the law of the beast which differs from God’s Law.
Question: What change has the prophet declared this apostate power would make in God’s Law?
Answer: Daniel 7:25.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws;
Question: How would this power thus exalt itself?
Answer: 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Question: What does the Papacy claim as the mark of its power?
Answer: Receiving homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church. Such an act of obedience would be a mark of allegiance to the pope in the place of God.
Question: What, therefore, in the light of the prophecy, is the mark of the beast?
Answer: Sunday enforced by civil law.
Question: Under what penalty will it be enforced?
Answer: Revelation 13:15, 16.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads;
Question: What solemn warning has God given concerning it?
Answer: Revelation 14:9-11.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
References:
- SSL – Third Angel’s Message, 1888
- RH, Sep, 1889; ST, Jul 1906: COL 79; 4SP 273, 284; EW 65; KPC 37 – The Ellen G. White Estate
- King James Bible Version (KJV)
Why Wait Longer?
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Your Creator And Redeemer Longs For You – Take Him At His Word Learn to trust in God’s love and His power to save and restore His image in you. The Spirit of God is pleading with you to seek for those things that alone can give you peace and rest – the grace of Christ and the joy of holiness. Give to Christ your guilt and fear today. He can satisfy the craving of your heart. Believe the Son of God. He will receive you. He welcomes you. His hand is stretched out still. Why wait longer? |
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