LESSON 12 *June 10–16
The Seal of God and Mark of the Beast: Part 2
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 12:6, 14; Dan. 7:25;
2 Thess. 2:3, 4; Deut. 6:8; Deut. 11:18; Exod. 20:8–11.
Memory Text: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity;
he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10, NKJV).
In the fifteenth century, the Piedmont valleys, high in the Alps of northern
Italy, were home to the Waldenses, a people determined to stay faithful
to their understanding of the Bible. As a result of their steadfast loyalty
to Christ, they were fiercely persecuted. In a.d. 1488, the Waldenses in the
Valley of Loyse were brutally murdered by the Roman Church for their faith.
Another wave of persecution came in the seventeenth century, when the
duke of Savoy sent an army of 8,000 into their territory and demanded
that the local populace quarter his troops in their homes. They did as he
requested, but this was a strategy to give the soldiers easy access to their
victims. On April 24, 1655, at 4:00 a.m., a signal was given for the massacre
to begin. This time the death toll was more than 4,000.
History, unfortunately, is often repeated. The “mark of the beast”
prophecy is about the final link in an ungodly chain of religious
persecution that goes back through the ages. Like the persecutions of the
past, it is designed to force everyone to conform to a certain set of
beliefs and an approved system of worship. As always, though, God
will have a people who will not capitulate.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 17.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, June 10
Lesson 12 - The Seal of God and Mark of the Beast: Part 2
November 26, 1885, Mrs. White left Basel for Torre Pellice, Italy. . . . Mrs. White remained in Torre Pellice three weeks. She spoke to the people ten times, and visited some of the noted places where the Waldenses, fleeing from their persecutors, had been followed and captured, tortured, and slain. Referring to these experiences, she wrote:
“If their voices [the Waldenses] could be heard, what a history the everlasting mountains surrounding these valleys could give of the sufferings of God’s people because of their faith! What a history of the visits of angels unrecognized by these Christian fugitives! Again and again have angels talked with men, as man speaketh with a friend, and led them to places of security. Again and again have the encouraging words of angels renewed the drooping spirits of the faithful, and, carrying their minds above the tops of the highest mountains, caused them to behold by faith the white robes, the crowns, the palm branches of victory, which the overcomers will receive when they surround the great white
throne.”—Life Sketches, p. 290.
Whenever, through faith in the Lamb of God, a soul renounces the service of sin, Satan’s wrath is kindled. The holy life of Abel testified against Satan’s claim that it is impossible for man to keep God’s law. When Cain, moved by the spirit of the wicked one, saw that he could not control Abel, he was so enraged that he destroyed his life. And wherever there are any who will stand in vindication of the righteousness of the law of God, the same spirit will be manifested against them. It is the spirit that through all the ages has set up the stake and kindled the burning pile for the disciples of Christ. But the cruelties heaped upon the follower of Jesus are instigated by Satan and his hosts because they cannot force him to submit to their control. It is the rage of a vanquished foe. Every martyr of Jesus has died a conqueror. Says the prophet, “They overcame him [“that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan”] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11,
9.—Patriarchs ad Prophets, p. 77.
Among earth’s inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. In the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones will “shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:15. The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they
shine.—Maranatha, p. 196.
SUNDAY June 11
The Deadly Wound
As we have already studied, the beast powers of Revelation 13 and
14 represent a worldwide system of false worship. But there’s more.
Read Revelation 13:5; Revelation 12:6, 14; and Daniel 7:25. How long
would this power dominate the religious landscape in the previous
centuries?
* Your notes will not be saved!
The beast would continue for a specific duration of time in history.
In symbolic time prophecies, a prophetic day equals a literal year.
In Numbers 14:34, we read: “for every day a year”—applying the
Bible principle of counting a day for a year. Again, God says, “I have
appointed thee each day for a year” (Ezek. 4:6). This principle has
repeatedly proven itself accurate in interpreting biblical time
prophecies, such as the 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24–27. Calculating the time
period mentioned in Revelation 13:5 of 42 months, with 30 days in
a month, we come up with 1,260 prophetic days or literal years. The
ancient calendars regularly had 360 days per year.
In the fourth century, the Roman emperor Constantine legalized
Christianity throughout the empire. When he moved his capital in a.d.
330 to Byzantium to unite the eastern and western parts of his empire,
it left a leadership vacuum in Rome. The pope, then, filled this void. He
became not only a powerful religious leader but also a political force to
be reckoned with in Europe. In a.d. 538, Justinian, the pagan Roman
emperor, officially granted the Roman bishop the role of the defender
of the faith. The medieval church exercised great influence from a.d.
538 to a.d. 1798, including in the terrible persecution mentioned in the
introduction to this week’s study. Napoleon’s General Berthier took the
pope captive in a.d. 1798, in exact fulfillment of the prophecy.
Berthier and his army captured Pope Pius VI and unceremoniously
removed him from the papal throne. The blow to the papacy was serious,
but, according to Revelation 13:12, the deadly wound would be
healed, and the world would hear more from this power—a lot more.
down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1, 2, NKJV).
Think about how amazing biblical prophecy is and how it reveals
to us God’s knowledge of future events. What should this fact
teach us about why we can trust the Lord’s promises, even the
ones we don’t yet see fulfilled?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, June 11
The Deadly Wound
Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second commandment, forbidding image worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number.
The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven’s authority. Satan tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified, and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.” This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were held on it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly
observed.—The Story of Redemption, p. 328.
“Power was given unto him [the leopardlike beast] to continue forty and two months.” And, says the prophet, “I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.” And again: “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” The forty and two months are the same as the “time and times and the dividing of time,” three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7—the time during which the papal power was to oppress God’s people. This period . . . began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into
captivity.”—The Great Controversy, p. 439.
The only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God’s command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.
In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell. It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death. See Revelation 13:11-17. But to the obedient is given the promise, “He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isaiah 33:16. By this promise the children of God will
live.—The Desire of Ages, p. 121.
MONDAY June 12
The Falling Away
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 9–12. What does Paul predict about the
last days? What identifying marks does he give for the beast, the
antichrist power?
The apostle Paul warns the Christian community of a “falling away”
from the truth of God’s Word. He is concerned about the seeds of
apostasy already present in the New Testament church, which would
flourish in the coming centuries before the second coming of Christ.
A counterfeit gospel would come into the church, distorting the Word
of God.
Satan is the one who is behind this apostasy. He is the true “man of
sin” who desires to exalt “himself above all that is called God” and sits
in the “temple of God” (2 Thess. 2:4). But the “great deceiver” works
through human agencies to accomplish his purposes. The identifying
characteristics in Daniel and Revelation reveal that the little horn of
Daniel 7, the beast of Revelation 13 and 14, and the “lawless one” of
2 Thessalonians 2 represent the same entity.
The SDA Bible Commentary states it this way: “A comparison with
Daniel’s prophecy of the blasphemous power that succeeds that of
pagan Rome . . . , and with John’s word picture of the leopardlike beast.
. . . reveals many similarities between the three descriptions [of the little
horn, the beast power, and the lawless one]. This leads us to the conclusion
that Daniel, Paul, and John are speaking of the same power, . . . the
papacy.”—Volume 7, p. 271.
It is extremely important to remember that Bible prophecy is
describing a system of religion that has compromised God’s Word,
substituted human traditions for the gospel, and drifted away from
biblical truth. These prophecies are given by a God of incredible love
to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. They are a rebuke to
apostate religious organizations that have departed from God’s Word,
and not necessarily the people in them (see Rev. 18:4). Our message
is about a system that has deceived millions. Though deceived, these
people are much loved by Christ. Hence, we must treat them accordingly.
“ ‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to
them, for this is the Law and the Prophets’ ” (Matt. 7:12, NKJV).
How must we apply this principle in dealing with the theme of the
beast powers in Revelation 13 and 14?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, June 12
The Falling Away
Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Matthew 24:10.
As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against
them.—Maranatha, p. 196.
Nothing less than the whole armor of righteousness can enable man to overcome the powers of darkness and retain the victory over them. Satan has taken full possession of the churches as a body. The sayings and doings of men are dwelt upon instead of the plain, cutting truths of the Word of God. The spirit and friendship of the world are at enmity with God. When the truth in its simplicity and strength, as it is in Jesus, is brought to bear against the spirit of the world, it at once awakens the spirit of persecution. Very many who profess to be Christians have not known God. The natural heart has not been changed, and the carnal mind remains at enmity with God. They are Satan’s faithful servants, notwithstanding they have assumed another
name.—Early Writings, p. 274.
Let everyone bear in mind that we are in no case to invite persecution. We are not to use harsh and cutting words. Keep them out of every article written, drop them out of every address given. Let the word of God do the cutting, the rebuking; let finite men hide and abide in Jesus Christ. Let the spirit of Christ appear. Let all be guarded in their words, lest they place those not of our faith in deadly opposition against us and give Satan an opportunity to use the unadvised words to hedge up our way.
There is to be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Our work is to study to weed out of all our discourses everything that savors of retaliation and defiance and making a drive against churches and individuals, because this is not Christ’s way and method.
The fact that God’s people, who know the truth, have failed to do their duty according to the light given in the word of God makes it a necessity for us to be the more guarded, lest we offend unbelievers before they have heard the reasons for our faith in regard to the Sabbath and
Sunday.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, pp. 243, 244.
TUESDAY June 13
Satan’s Final Strategy
Surveys reveal a deep lack of trust in institutions and governments.
Millions wonder, “Where is there someone who is morally fit to lead
the world?” Revelation’s prophecies identify the beast power as the one
who, under the auspices of a religious/political union, will be the power
believed fit to fill this role.
Read Revelation 17:12–14. How does John describe these final scenes
of earth’s history? What powerful contrast is seen here?
There are three significant points John makes in this passage. First,
the political powers have “one mind” and “give their power and authority”
to the beast. Second, this conglomerate of error makes war against
Jesus the Lamb. Third, in earth’s last war, Christ and His followers are
triumphant. The beast does not win; Jesus does.
Have you ever wondered what strategy the devil might use to unite
the nations? History often repeats itself. We discover valuable lessons
from the collapse of the Roman Empire. When the Germanic invasions
from the north ravaged Western Europe, the Roman Emperor
Constantine turned to religion. The authority of the church, combined
with the power of the state, became the very instrument Constantine
needed. The continual strengthening of the sanctity of Sunday in the
fourth century was a calculated political and religious move to unite
the empire at a time of crisis. Constantine wanted his empire united,
and the Roman Church wanted it “converted.” The renowned historian
Arthur Weigall states it clearly: “The church made a sacred day of
Sunday . . . largely because it was the weekly festival of the sun; for it
was a definite Christian policy to take over the pagan festivals endeared
to the people by tradition and give them Christian significance.”—The
Paganism in Our Christianity (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1928),
p. 145.
At a time of great crisis, when all the world is scared, hurting, and
fearful, people will be desperate for someone to bring some stability
and protection. This is how tyranny has arisen in the past, and there’s no
reason to think that it could not happen again. According to prophecy,
something will bring about these final events.
Though it’s hard to know how all this could unfold, the world has
already seen how great changes can come, and very quickly too.
Though we don’t know details about what is coming, we need to be
ready for whatever does come.
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, June 13
Satan’s Final Strategy
As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist among the Lord’s instrumentalities. The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head—the papal power—the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses.
What is it that gives its kingdom to this power? Protestantism, a power which, while professing to have the temper and spirit of a lamb and to be allied to Heaven, speaks with the voice of a dragon. It is moved by a power from beneath.
“These have one mind.” There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. “And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of
Romanism.—Maranatha, p. 187.
The same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is still seeking to rid the earth of those who fear God and obey His law. Satan will excite indignation against the humble minority who conscientiously refuse to accept popular customs and traditions. Men of position and reputation will join with the lawless and the vile to take counsel against the people of God. Not having a “Thus saith the Scriptures” to bring against the advocates of the Bible Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply the
lack.—Maranatha, p. 198.
All things in nature and in the world at large are charged with intense earnestness. Satan, in cooperation with his angels and with evil men, will put forth every effort to gain the victory, and will appear to succeed. But from this conflict, truth and righteousness will come forth triumphant in
victory.—Manuscript 24, 1891.
It will be found a terrible thing to have worn out the divine patience; for the wrath of God will fall so signally and strongly that it is presented as being unmixed with mercy; and the very earth will be desolated. It is at the time of the national apostasy, when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the land will rank themselves on the side of the man of sin—it is then the measure of guilt is full; the national apostasy is the signal for national ruin.
God has thrust His people into the gap, to make up the hedge, to raise up the foundation of many generations. The heavenly intelligences, angels that excel in strength, are waiting, obedient to His command, to unite with human agencies; and the Lord will interpose when matters have come to such a pass that none but a divine power can counteract the satanic agencies at work. When His people shall be in the greatest danger, seemingly unable to stand against the power of Satan, God will work in their behalf. Man’s extremity is God’s
opportunity.—Selected Messages, book 2, pp. 372, 373.
WEDNESDAY June 14
The Mark of the Beast
Read Revelation 14:9 and compare it to Revelation 14:12. Where is the
mark of the beast placed? (See Deut. 6:8, Deut. 11:18.) What two
characteristics distinguish God’s people from those who receive the
mark of the beast?
One group worships the beast, and one keeps the commandments of
God (which includes the fourth, the one commandment the beast power
thought to change) and has the faith of Jesus. That’s the contrast. Working
through the sea and land beasts, the devil attempts to undermine God’s
authority by attacking the heart of worship; namely, the Sabbath. The
mark of the beast is placed either in the forehead or the hand. The
forehead is a symbol of the mind, where conscience, reason, and judgment
are located; the hand, in contrast, is a symbol of actions and deeds.
The day is coming, and possibly sooner than we think, that laws will
be passed restricting our religious liberty. Those who conscientiously
follow the Word of God and keep the true Sabbath of the Lord will be
labeled as opposing unity and the good of society.
“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of
law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing
anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the
earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy,
stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection
toward the government.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 592.
The church of Rome claims that Sunday is the “mark” of its ecclesiastical
authority. “Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change
was her act. . . . And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and
authority in religious matters.”—The American Catholic Quarterly
Review, January 1883.
Revelation predicts that in the future, at a time of international crisis,
our world will face some kind of radical political, social, religious, and
moral transformation, in which Sunday keeping will be enforced and
then will become “the mark of the beast.” Again, how all this unfolds
we have not been told. Scripture gives us only broad outlines—but
enough to show us that the great controversy is going to climax around
the issue of worshiping either the beast or the Creator and that the
seventh-day Sabbath will play a central role.
In what ways has humanity always been divided along the lines
of being on either God’s side or on Satan’s? Why can there be no
middle ground? How can we know, for sure, just whose side we
really are on?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, June 14
The Mark of the Beast
Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image.
As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome—“the mark of the beast.” And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive “the mark of the
beast.”—The Great Controversy, p. 449.
The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment—since this is the sign of His creative power and the witness to His claim upon man’s reverence and homage. The wicked will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down the Creator’s memorial, to exalt the institution of Rome. In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great classes—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond” (Revelation 13:16), to receive the mark of the beast, yet the people of God will not receive it.
The prophet of Patmos beholds “them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God” (Revelation 15:2) and singing the song of Moses and the
Lamb.—Selected Messages, book 2, p. 55.
THURSDAY June 15
The Sabbath Test
Even now, perhaps, the stage is being set for this impending persecution.
On June 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI made an urgent appeal to
more than 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome that
Sunday must be a day of rest for everyone, so people can be free to be
with their families and with God. “By defending Sunday, one defends
human freedom.” This isn’t, of course, the same thing as demanding
that others keep this day, as opposed to the biblical Sabbath, but it
does show that the idea of Sunday as the “day of rest” is, definitely, a
real issue. Sooner or later, laws will be passed, and those who
conscientiously follow the Word of God and keep the true Sabbath will be
labeled as opposing society’s best interests.
In this time of crisis, God’s faithful people will, by His grace and
through His power, stand firm in their convictions to follow Him. They
will not yield to the pressure.
In contrast to the mark of the beast, they will receive the seal of God. Seals
were used in ancient times to attest to the authenticity of official documents.
We would then expect to find God’s seal embedded in His law. Ancient seals
were a distinctive, individualized mark. Isaiah the prophet says, “Bind up the
testimony, seal the law among my disciples” (Isa. 8:16, NKJV).
Read Exodus 20:8–11. What elements of a biblical seal do you find in
the Sabbath commandment? How is the Sabbath command different
from all the other commandments?
The fourth commandment contains three elements of an authentic seal.
First, there is the name of the sealer: “ ‘The Lord your God’ ” (Exod.
20:10, NKJV). Second, there is the title of the sealer: the Lord who
“made” (Exod. 20:11), or the Creator. And third, there is the territory of
the sealer: “ ‘the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them’ ”
(Exod. 20:11, NKJV). According to Revelation 7:1, 2, the seal of God is
placed only on our foreheads, a symbol of our minds. Jesus respects our
freedom of choice. He invites us to let Him shape our minds by His Holy
Spirit so that we cannot be moved from the anchor of our faith in the
Word of God (Eph. 4:30). Thus, we understand that the faithful are those
who “keep the commandments of God, and [have] the faith of Jesus”
(Rev. 14:12), and included in those commandments is the fourth, the one
commandment the beast power thought to change (Dan. 7:25).
What conditions can you see currently developing that could
potentially lead to the restriction of our religious liberty? What
obstacles remain, as well?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, June 15
The Sabbath Test
There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warred against liberty of conscience.
Sunday observance owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to “the mystery of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active
despotism.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 711.
In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. . . .
The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of
conscience.—Maranatha, p. 187.
Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. . . .
The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. . . . All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own
nakedness.—Maranatha, p. 200.
FRIDAY June 16
Further Thought: “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across
the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over
the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of
this threefold union, our country [the United States] shall repudiate every
principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government,
and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and
delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working
of Satan and that the end is near.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 5, p. 451.
“We have tended to overlook the fact that Sunday is the day of worship
of the opposing forces . . . in the story line of the Book of Revelation.
Sunday is an extremely important symbol, revealing the unbelievable
craftiness and sophistry of the dragon. . . . This . . . change of God’s
law expresses in one simple action the very essence of the hatred of
the dragon against God in the cosmic conflict. Its simplicity is highly
deceptive. The dragon has sought to usurp God’s place in the cosmos by
depicting himself as the true object of worship and arguing that God’s
law is unjust—that it should be changed. The dragon changed the law
at the juncture within the Decalogue where God is identified as Creator
and Redeemer, the only one worthy of worship (Exod 20:8–11; Deut 5;
cf. Rev 4:11; 5:9, 13, 14). The change of the law manifests not only the
dragon’s hatred for the will of the Lord (the law), but it is also his attempt
to usurp God’s place by becoming the object of worship. . . .
The universalization of this change in the law would assure him victory.”—Ángel
Manuel Rodríguez, “The Closing of the Cosmic Conflict: Role of the
Three Angels’ Messages,” unpublished manuscript, pp. 53, 54.
Discussion Questions:
-
1. Though living in anticipation, even expectation, of final events,
why must we be careful about not getting into fanaticism, date
setting, or speculating beyond what has been revealed to us through
inspiration? What are the dangers of doing this, and what have
been the results when the expected events have not unfolded when
and how people have said they would happen?
-
2. While we must avoid the dangers depicted in the previous
discussion question, how do we respond to those who say that our
scenario about the mark of the beast and persecution cannot happen
because it just doesn’t seem possible, given the current state
of the world? Why is this line of reasoning, though on the surface
seemingly sensible, really not sensible at all? (After all, look at how
quickly great changes can come to the world.)
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, June 16
For Further Reading
The Upward Look, “Our Competent Saviour,” p. 39;
Early Writings, “The Mark of the Beast,” pp. 64–67.
INSIDE STORY
School Saves
By Andrew McChesney
A luxury car pulled up at a Seventh-day Adventist elementary school on
the first day of classes in Ukraine. Two children carrying bouquets of
flowers emerged from the car, together with their parents. Ukrainian children
often present teachers with flowers on the first day of school. “We want our
children to study at your school,” the father told the school principal.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” the principal replied. “We don’t have room.”
The father persisted. “We will buy new desks and chairs for all the students
and pay double the tuition,” he said. “Please let our children study.”
The principal wondered whether the father’s expectations might be too
high.
“You know that we don’t have government accreditation to hold final
exams,” she said. “Your kids would have to take them at the public school.”
“That’s no problem,” the mother said. “We’ll help you get accreditation.”
“You know this is a Seventh-day Adventist school,” the principal said.
Adventists are dismissed as a sect by many people in the former Soviet
Union. But the father knew it was an Adventist school, and he was not
deterred. “Yes, and we want our children to study here,” he said.
The mother explained that the family had vacationed at the Black Sea a
few weeks earlier, and the children had made new friends from the school.
Every evening, the children had excitedly told their parents about the school
and pleaded to go. Then the mother handed her business card to the principal.
She was a city judge. Her husband was a high-ranking military officer.
The children entered the second and third grade at the school, and they
immediately loved it. But as the weeks passed, they began begging their
parents to read Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories to them just as their
classmates’ parents were reading to them. The mother told the children to ask
the teacher to sell the books to them. “Then I will read to you every night,”
she said. The children bought the books, and she read to them every night.
The months passed, and the children asked to go to Sabbath School and
church. The parents took them every Sabbath. The next summer, a year after
the family first heard about Adventists while on their
Black Sea vacation, both the mother and father were
baptized.
“Adventist education is closely connected with the mission of
the church,” said Ivan Riapolov (pictured), education director
of the Euro-Asia Division, whose territory includes Ukraine.
“You cannot separate Adventist education and Adventist mission.
Wherever schools open, the church grows.”
Thank you for your mission offerings that support Seventh-day
Adventist education worldwide.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
