Participants:
Series Code: ARSS
Program Code: ARSS190024S
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00:14 Well, here we are,
00:16 for our last session together in the series on the seals, 00:21 I expect you to say oh. 00:26 It's been a good experience, hasn't it? 00:28 I've enjoyed it. 00:30 I've enjoyed having fellowship with you all and, 00:34 and also studying to prepare this particular seminar. 00:38 Remember next year we're gonna do the trumpets, Lord willing. 00:41 And what we wanna do now is have a word of prayer 00:43 and then we're gonna start on page 401. 00:46 So let's bow our heads. 00:48 Father in heaven, we thank You for the way 00:50 in which You have manifested Yourself here in this seminar. 00:54 I thank You, Lord, for each one of these precious souls 00:57 that have come out to dedicate an entire week 01:01 to study this portion from Your Word, 01:04 I ask, Lord, that You will take what we've studied, 01:07 and that it might cause an impact in our lives 01:10 and that we might be empowered to share these beautiful truths 01:13 with those who are searching for something 01:16 better than what they have. 01:18 Be with us now as we open Your Word, 01:20 open our minds and hearts and we thank You 01:23 for the promise of Your presence 01:24 and we claim that promise in the precious name of Jesus. 01:28 Amen. 01:31 Page 401 in our syllabus, 01:35 Seventh-day Adventists are not the only ones 01:38 who keep the Sabbath. 01:40 The Seventh-day Baptists are Sabbath keepers. 01:45 There are Orthodox Jews, there are Messianic Jews, 01:50 there are various offshoots of the Worldwide Church of God 01:54 that still observe the Sabbath. 01:56 And several Pentecostal churches 01:59 keep the Sabbath as well. 02:02 However, the Seventh-day Adventist theology 02:04 of the Sabbath is different 02:07 than the theology of the Sabbath 02:08 of all of these different groups. 02:12 The Adventist view of the Sabbath 02:14 is one of a kind, so to say. 02:18 Ellen White once wrote 02:19 to a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist in Wisconsin. 02:24 And she wrote some very significant words about 02:27 the way in which this evangelist presented 02:31 the doctrine of the Sabbath. 02:33 And I want to read that statement, 02:35 it's found in Testimonies for the Church, 02:37 volume 1, page 337. 02:40 As far as the Sabbath is concerned, 02:43 he occupies the same position as the Seventh-day Baptists. 02:48 By the way, the Seventh-day Baptist 02:50 use the same arguments that Adventist use 02:52 in favor of the Sabbath. 02:53 In all the creation, God establishes Sabbath, 02:56 it's in the fourth commandment, Jesus kept the Sabbath, 02:59 the apostles kept the Sabbath. 03:00 They use the same arguments that Adventist do. 03:03 But now notice, 03:05 separate the Sabbath from the messages, 03:07 what does she refer as the messages? 03:10 The three angels' messages, and it what? 03:13 It loses its power. 03:15 The Adventist Church is the only one that links 03:17 the Sabbath message 03:19 with the three angels' messages. 03:21 She continues, 03:22 but when connected with the message 03:24 of the third angel, a power attends it, 03:29 which convicts unbelievers and infidels, 03:32 and brings them out with strength to stand to live, 03:37 grow and flourish in the Lord. 03:41 So the Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:42 is the only church that I know of in the world 03:45 that links the third angel's message 03:48 with the Sabbath. 03:50 The third angel's message mentions 03:52 the mark of the beast, 03:53 which is the opposite of the seal of God, 03:55 which is the Sabbath. 03:58 Ellen White wrote 03:59 that the observance of the Sabbath 04:01 will be the separating wall between the faithful 04:05 and the unfaithful in the final conflict. 04:08 That also is unique. 04:11 There is no church in the world that says 04:12 that the Sabbath is going to be the dividing line 04:15 between the righteous and the unrighteous 04:16 in the end time, 04:18 only the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 04:20 And also, Ellen White emphasized 04:23 that in the last days, 04:25 God's remnant people will have to proclaim 04:29 the Sabbath more fully. 04:32 Now, let's notice on page 402, 04:34 two statements from the Spirit of Prophecy, 04:37 where Ellen White emphasizes that the Seventh-day Adventist 04:41 view of the Sabbath is that the Sabbath 04:42 will be the dividing wall 04:44 between the righteous and the unrighteous. 04:47 And that in the little time of trouble 04:49 when the loud cries being proclaimed, 04:51 the Sabbath must be proclaimed more fully than it is now. 04:56 The first statement we find in or actually 04:59 it's the same statement, Early Writings, 05:01 page 33 and then page 34 is the second reference. 05:06 Ellen White wrote, I saw the holy Sabbath is, 05:11 and will be the separating wall 05:15 between the true Israel of God. 05:17 Notice the expression Israel of God, 05:20 so it's spiritual Israel, right? 05:22 Between the Israel, 05:23 the true Israel of God and unbelievers, 05:26 and that the Sabbath is the great question 05:30 to unite the hearts of God's dear waiting saints. 05:34 And then comes the additional statement 05:36 from the same book, Early Writings, page 34. 05:40 I saw that God had children 05:42 who do not see and keep the Sabbath, 05:45 they have not rejected the light upon it. 05:48 And at the commencement of the time of trouble, 05:50 this is not the time of Jacob's trouble. 05:53 This is a little time of trouble 05:55 right before the close of probation 05:56 when the loud cries been proclaimed, 05:58 and the latter rain is poured out. 06:00 You'll notice that in a moment. 06:02 They have not rejected the light upon it 06:04 and at the commencement of the time of trouble 06:07 we were filled with the Holy Ghost. 06:09 See, there's the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 06:11 as we went forth, 06:13 and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. 06:17 What does that mean more fully? 06:19 It means that the Sabbath will be proclaimed 06:22 as the opposite of the mark of the beast. 06:25 Not only that the Sabbath is God's rest day, 06:27 but that it is the exact opposite 06:30 of the mark of the beast, 06:32 which is being pushed by the clergy, 06:35 and by other churches. 06:37 Now, how did this message react upon those individuals 06:40 who hear it? 06:42 Well, some will accept it, 06:44 but notice what happens with others. 06:47 This enraged the churches, and nominal Adventists, 06:51 as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. 06:54 And at this time, God's chosen, 06:56 all saw clearly that we had the truth 07:01 and they came out, 07:02 that's coming out of the churches, 07:04 the exit from Babylon, 07:06 they came out and endured the persecution with us. 07:10 I saw the sword, famine, 07:13 pestilence and great confusion in the land. 07:17 The wicked thought 07:18 that we had brought the judgments upon them. 07:21 And they rose up and took counsel 07:24 to rid the earth of us 07:26 thinking that then the evil would be stayed. 07:31 So basically, the Seventh-day Adventist view 07:34 of the Sabbath is unique. 07:36 It's gonna be the dividing wall. 07:38 It needs to be connected to the third angel's message 07:41 and it needs to be contrasted with the mark of the beast. 07:46 So the Sabbath for Adventists is not simply 07:48 one of the Ten Commandments. 07:50 It is the seal of God, 07:52 and will be the final test 07:54 that will divide the world into two groups, 07:58 those who have the seal of God, 08:00 and those who have the mark of the beast. 08:03 Another difference between the Seventh-day Adventist 08:05 manner of keeping the Sabbath and that of many other churches 08:09 is that we believe that we are to suspend 08:11 all secular activities for the full 08:13 24 hours of the Sabbath. 08:16 Other churches who keep the Sabbath 08:18 simply go to church on Sabbath, 08:20 but then they'll go and play football in the afternoon, 08:23 or they'll watch a football game on television. 08:25 But Seventh-day Adventists believe 08:27 that we should suspend all secular activities 08:30 for the 24 hours from sundown Friday 08:33 to sundown on Sabbath. 08:35 Another difference between 08:37 the Adventist view of the Sabbath 08:38 and the view that is held by some other churches 08:41 is that we link the Sabbath 08:43 with the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary. 08:47 We believe that's when someone enters 08:49 the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary 08:51 by faith, immediately they will see 08:54 that the Sabbath is binding, 08:57 because the law is in the Ark of the Covenant. 08:59 And they will also see that the Sabbath is binding, 09:02 because the Sabbath is in the center of the law, 09:05 which is in the Ark of the Covenant. 09:08 So when you enter the Most Holy Place, 09:11 immediately you see the law, 09:13 it's still binding and you also see 09:15 that the Sabbath is still binding 09:17 because it is in the central, center of the law. 09:21 Furthermore, the Sabbath is highlighted 09:24 in the Most Holy Place. 09:26 You remember that Ellen White had a vision 09:28 where she saw a halo of light around the Sabbath. 09:32 Where did she get that from? 09:34 Well, the fact is that the Sabbath is highlighted 09:37 in the Ark of the Covenant, 09:39 because there you have the manna 09:42 which taught Israel 09:43 the importance of keeping the Sabbath 09:46 and it also is in the fourth commandment, 09:49 remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 09:51 So in other words, there's a double testimony 09:53 to the Sabbath in the Ark of the Covenant, 09:56 the manna that God gave to teach 09:59 Sabbath observance and also the Sabbath 10:02 as it is found in the Ten Commandments. 10:06 Now what we wanna do is we want to show 10:10 three things in our study together. 10:12 Number one, that the final conflict 10:15 will involve the Ten Commandments. 10:19 That's a general statement. 10:21 Second, we want to see that the final conflict 10:24 will not only have to do with the Ten Commandments, 10:27 but with the first four commandments especially. 10:30 And finally, we're gonna see that the final conflict 10:33 has to do with the fourth commandment. 10:36 So we're going from broad, all of the commandments, 10:39 to the first four commandments to the fourth commandment. 10:44 So let's notice how the Bible testifies 10:47 that the final conflict 10:48 will be over the Ten Commandments. 10:51 Revelation 12:17. 10:54 This is speaking about the end time crisis. 10:57 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, 11:00 and he went to make war 11:02 with the rest of her offspring." 11:04 And why is he gonna make war against this group? 11:08 "Who keep the commandments of God 11:11 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," 11:13 which we know to be the Spirit of Prophecy. 11:17 So does the devil hate the Ten Commandments? 11:19 Is the final conflict going to have 11:21 to do with the Ten Commandments? 11:24 The devil, angry at those who keep the Ten Commandments? 11:27 Absolutely. 11:29 Revelation 14:1 tells us that the seal of God 11:34 is placed on the forehead. 11:36 Notice, let's read that verse, Revelation 14:1, 11:40 "Then I looked, and behold, a lamb standing on Mount Zion, 11:44 and with him 144,000, 11:47 having his Father's name written on their foreheads." 11:52 So you'll notice that the seal of God 11:54 is on the forehead. 11:56 Now, what is it that God writes on our forehead? 12:02 His law. 12:03 Would that include the Sabbath? 12:05 Absolutely. 12:07 Let's notice Jeremiah 31:33. 12:11 And by the way, this is also quoted 12:13 in Hebrews 8:7-13. 12:16 "But this is the covenant 12:18 that I will make with the house of Israel 12:20 after those days, 12:22 says the Lord: I will put My law," where? 12:26 "In their minds." 12:27 Is that where your forehead is, your mind, the frontal lobe? 12:30 Yes. 12:32 "I will put My law in their minds, 12:34 and write it on their hearts, 12:36 and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 12:40 So what is it that God writes on the forehead? 12:42 The law, so the seal must have something to do with what? 12:47 With the Ten Commandments, with the law of God. 12:50 Notice Isaiah 8:16. 12:53 This is explicit, bind up the testimony, seal what? 12:59 Seal the law among my disciples. 13:03 So what is it that is sealed? 13:05 The law. 13:07 Now let's notice 2 Timothy 2:19. 13:12 We're gonna find here, 13:14 what distinguishes the righteous 13:16 from the unrighteous. 13:17 It says there, the Apostle Paul is writing. 13:20 "Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God 13:23 stands having this seal." 13:26 So you'll notice here, 13:28 that the solid foundation of God has a seal. 13:30 Now what is that seal? 13:32 The Lord knows those who are His, 13:35 and let everyone who names the name of Christ 13:40 depart from what? 13:42 Iniquity. 13:44 Who is it that has the seal? 13:46 People who, what? 13:48 Who depart from iniquity. 13:51 Now that word iniquity is very interesting. 13:54 It's the word adikia in Greek. 13:57 You say, well, what does that word mean? 13:59 It's translated correctly iniquity. 14:02 However, I want you to notice that the word iniquity there 14:06 is used synonymously with another Greek word. 14:11 Let's notice Matthew 7:23. 14:15 "And then I will declare to them," 14:18 these are those who profess to follow Jesus 14:20 but did not really, "then I will declare to them, 14:24 'I never knew you, depart from Me, 14:27 you who practice lawlessness!'" 14:32 Now, that's the New King James, the old King James. 14:35 In 1 John 3:4, translates that word, 14:40 anomias as transgression of the law. 14:46 It translates it differently here, 14:48 but it's the identical word. 14:49 See, the expression transgression of the law 14:52 is one word in Greek, the word anomias. 14:55 So Jesus is gonna say to those who professed Him, 14:58 professed His name, I never knew you, 15:01 depart from Me, 15:03 you who practice lawlessness 15:05 or you who are transgressors of the law. 15:09 But now I want you to notice that in the Gospel of Luke, 15:12 we have the same statement of Jesus, 15:14 but a different word is used. 15:16 Notice Luke 13:27. 15:20 "But He will say, I tell you, I do not know you, 15:24 where you are from. 15:25 Depart from Me, all you workers of adikia, 15:29 all you workers of iniquity." 15:32 So let me ask you, 15:33 are transgressors of the law and iniquity, 15:37 are they synonymous terms? 15:39 Yes. 15:40 So you could very well translate Matthew 7:23 15:44 that depart from Me, 15:46 you who are transgressors of the law. 15:50 So God's people have a seal, what is that seal? 15:53 They depart from iniquity. 15:55 And what is iniquity? 15:57 Iniquity is transgression of the law. 16:00 Notice Matthew 24:12, 16:03 this is in the context of the signs 16:07 of the coming of Christ, 16:08 what condition the world will be in. 16:10 It says, and because of lawlessness, 16:14 that's the word anomias, it can be translated. 16:16 "And because transgression of the law will abound, 16:21 the love of many will grow cold, 16:24 but he who endures till the end shall be saved." 16:28 So what is gonna characterize the world at the end of time? 16:31 The transgression of the law. 16:35 I want you to notice also Revelation 14:9-11, 16:39 this is the third angel's message. 16:41 "Then a third angel followed them, 16:43 saying with a loud voice, 16:45 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, 16:48 and receives his mark on his forehead, 16:51 or on his hand, 16:53 he himself shall also drink of the wine 16:55 of the wrath of God, 16:56 which is poured out full strength 16:58 into the cup of His indignation. 17:00 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 17:02 in the presence of the holy angels, 17:05 and in the presence of the Lamb. 17:07 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, 17:10 and they have no rest day or night, 17:12 who worship the beast and his image, 17:14 and whoever receives the mark of his name." 17:17 And what does the very next verse say? 17:22 There's a contrast now, isn't there? 17:25 There are those who receive the mark of the beast 17:28 on their forehead and worship the image, 17:30 but there's another group that stand in contrast to those 17:34 in the very next verse. 17:36 What are they characterized by? 17:38 "Here is the patience of the saints, 17:42 here are those who," what? 17:44 "Who keep the commandments of God 17:46 and the faith of Jesus." 17:48 So if the faithful remnant 17:49 keeps the commandments of God, 17:51 what must characterize those 17:52 who worship the beast and his image? 17:55 It must be that they transgress the commandments of God. 17:59 So the first point is that the final controversy, 18:02 the final conflict is going to be related 18:06 to the Ten Commandments. 18:08 On one side will be those who keep the Ten Commandments, 18:12 Satan will hate them, 18:13 the dragon will be enraged with them. 18:16 And on the other hand, 18:17 there will be those who break the commandments, 18:20 and Satan will be fine with those, 18:23 because Satan hates God's law 18:25 from the time that he was in heaven. 18:27 Now we wanna notice a second point 18:30 and that is that the final conflict 18:32 will be related to the first four commandments of God's law. 18:37 Now we're streamlining it. 18:38 We started broadly with the Ten Commandments, 18:41 now we're gonna see that the final controversy 18:43 has to do with the first four commandments 18:46 or the first table of the law. 18:49 I'm gonna skip Deuteronomy 6:4 and following 18:54 because we read this this morning. 18:56 But what I want you to notice is that the final conflict 19:00 has to do with worship, doesn't it? 19:04 Which table of the law has to do with worship to God? 19:09 The first table of the law. 19:11 You see the first table of the law, 19:14 the first four commandments define and explain 19:19 what it means to worship and love God. 19:22 The last six commandments have to do 19:25 with our horizontal relationship 19:28 with our fellow human beings. 19:30 Now is the controversy in the Book of Revelation 19:33 related to the first table of the law? 19:37 Notice on page 406, 19:40 this very important detail. 19:43 Is everyone on earth 19:46 with the exception of a very small remnant, 19:48 going to worship the dragon 19:50 and worship the beast, yes or no? 19:53 Would that be a violation of the commandment that says, 19:57 thou shalt have no other gods before me? 20:00 Absolutely. 20:01 What about the second commandment 20:03 that forbids the worship of images? 20:06 What are people gonna worship at the end of time? 20:09 The image of the beast. 20:11 Would that involve the second commandment? 20:13 Absolutely. 20:15 What about the third commandment, 20:16 respecting the name of God? 20:19 Revelation 13:6 says that the beast blasphemes 20:23 the name of God. 20:25 So is the third commandment involved? 20:27 Absolutely. 20:29 Is the fourth commandment, 20:31 the Creator involved 20:33 in the last conflict in this world? 20:36 Yes, because we've already identified 20:38 the seal of God as what? 20:40 As the Sabbath, and the mark of the beast 20:43 as the observance of the first day of the week, 20:46 once people are fully cognizant of what the Sabbath 20:50 and what the Bible says and history say 20:52 about the Sabbath and about Sunday. 20:56 So, we find that this final controversy 20:59 is gonna be related to the first four commandments 21:03 of God's holy law. 21:06 However, there is a smaller circle. 21:09 And that is that the final controversy 21:12 is going to have to do 21:14 with the fourth commandment of God's holy law. 21:18 So we've moved from the controversy 21:20 being over the commandments, 21:22 to the controversy primarily being related 21:26 to the first four commandments to the conflict involving 21:30 the fourth of the Ten Commandments. 21:34 Now let's pursue this. 21:36 Psalm 95:1-6 tells us 21:40 why we should worship God 21:43 because the final controversy has to do with worship. 21:46 "Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord! 21:49 Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 21:53 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. 21:56 Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 21:59 For the Lord is the great God 22:01 and the great King above all gods. 22:03 In His hand are of the deep places 22:04 of the earth, the heights of the hills are His also. 22:08 The sea is His, for He made it, 22:10 and His hands formed the dry land." 22:13 So these verses speak about the fact that God is the what? 22:17 The Creator. 22:19 Now what is our response to the Creator? 22:22 Verse 6, "Oh, come, let us." 22:25 what? "Worship." 22:27 And what? "Bow down." 22:29 And in case you didn't understand, 22:30 worship and bow down, 22:32 let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. 22:37 So why do we worship God? 22:40 Because He is our Creator. 22:44 Notice Nehemiah 9:6 that confirms the same thought. 22:49 "You alone are the Lord, You have made heaven, 22:53 the heaven of heavens, with all their host, 22:57 the earth and everything in it, on it, 23:00 the seas, and all that is in them, 23:03 and You preserve them all." 23:05 So once again, God is presented as the Creator. 23:07 And now notice what the host of heaven does, 23:09 because He's the Creator. 23:11 The host of heaven what? 23:13 Worships you. 23:16 Notice also Revelation 14:6-7. 23:18 The point that I want us to catch now 23:20 is that we worship God because He is the Creator. 23:25 Notice the first angel's message. 23:27 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 23:30 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 23:33 who dwell on the earth, 23:34 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people 23:36 saying with a loud voice, 23:38 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, 23:40 for the hour of His judgment has come," 23:42 and now notice, 23:43 "and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 23:46 the sea, and springs of water." 23:49 Once again, we worship God because of why? 23:52 Because He is the Creator. 23:54 That's a divine principle. 23:56 Notice Isaiah 66:22-23. 23:59 And here we're gonna find 24:01 another little interesting detail, 24:03 where we're gonna go next in our study. 24:05 Isaiah 66:22-23, 24:08 "For as the new heavens and the new earth 24:11 which I will make, God is speaking here, 24:14 shall remain before Me, says the Lord, 24:17 so shall your descendants and your name remain. 24:20 And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another," 24:23 that means from one month to another, 24:25 "and from one Sabbath to another, 24:28 all flesh shall come to worship before Me, 24:32 says the Lord." 24:35 Is it speaking of a new creation? 24:37 Is God gonna create a new heavens and new earth? 24:40 What are we going to do because God created 24:44 the new heavens and the new earth? 24:45 We're gonna worship on which day? 24:48 On the Sabbath. 24:49 That's the additional point that I want us to notice now. 24:53 The Sabbath is the sign that we worship the Creator. 24:58 So God is the Creator. 25:00 We worship the Creator because He is the Creator. 25:03 And we observe the Sabbath 25:05 because it is the sign of the Creator. 25:09 Let's notice Genesis 131:2-3. 25:14 This is very interesting 25:16 because it seems to say that God, 25:19 and that His work at creation week twice. 25:22 Now you say, 25:24 how can you finish something twice? 25:26 Well, let's read the passage and then we'll see 25:29 what this is talking about. 25:31 Then God saw, this is 1:31. 25:35 And by the way, we're gonna notice 25:37 that 2:1 really belongs with Chapter 1. 25:39 Okay? 25:41 So 2:1 is in the wrong chapter, 25:43 it really should be the concluding verse 25:45 of Chapter 1, you'll see that in a minute. 25:48 "Then God saw everything that He had made, 25:50 and indeed, it was very good. 25:52 So that, so the evening and morning were the sixth day, 25:56 thus, the heavens and the earth, 25:58 and all the hosts of them were finished." 26:01 Which day did God finish? 26:04 The sixth day. 26:05 But now we have a problem. 26:06 Verse 2, "And on the seventh day, 26:08 God ended His work." 26:11 Now you say, well, it says ended there. 26:13 And before that it says finished. 26:15 It's identical Hebrew word. 26:17 So you could translate it. 26:18 "And on the seventh day, 26:20 God finished His work that He had done 26:22 and He rested on the seventh day 26:24 from all His work that He had done. 26:26 Then God blessed the seventh day 26:27 and sanctified it, 26:29 because in it He rested from all His work, 26:31 which God had created and made." 26:33 How many times that God finished His work 26:36 during creation week? 26:38 Twice. 26:39 He finished on the sixth day. 26:42 And then we are told 26:44 that He finished on the seventh day. 26:46 So how can you finish something twice? 26:48 Let me give you an illustration. 26:50 I want you to imagine an artist 26:52 who's painting a beautiful picture of nature. 26:56 First thing he does is get the wooden frame 27:00 and he takes the canvas, 27:01 and he staples that to the frame. 27:03 The first day, he adds some background colors. 27:07 And at the end of the first day of his work, 27:09 he looks and he says it's good. 27:12 The second day, he paints a blue sky 27:15 with maybe a few clouds here and there 27:18 and when he finishes his work, the second day, 27:21 he steps back and looks and he says it's good. 27:24 The third day, 27:26 he paints some trees and some flowers, 27:28 and some green grass and when he finishes his third, 27:31 his work, the third day, he looks and he says it's good. 27:36 On the fourth day, he paints a sun in the sky, 27:39 you know, and a moon because sometimes you can see 27:41 the moon in the daytime 27:43 and he finishes his work the fourth day, 27:45 and he steps back and he says it's good. 27:49 The fifth day he paints some birds in the trees 27:51 and flying through the air, 27:53 and he paints some fish jumping out of the waters 27:56 and when he finishes his work the fifth day, 27:58 he looks and he says it's good. 28:01 The sixth day he sits down, 28:03 and he paints some land animals, 28:06 and then he paints a man and a woman 28:09 standing in the midst of this majestic scene of nature, 28:13 as the final touches to the canvas steps back 28:17 and he's finished the portrait, 28:20 he looks and he says it is very good. 28:26 Is he finished? 28:29 I just said he added the final touches. 28:32 He's finished. 28:34 But is something missing? 28:36 What is missing? 28:37 What is missing is the signature of the person 28:41 who painted the picture. 28:44 Are you with me? 28:46 The seventh day is God signature on creation. 28:51 And when we keep the Sabbath, 28:52 we are recognizing and announcing 28:55 that we believe that God is the Creator, 28:58 the Creator of the heavens and the earth. 29:00 So we worship God because He's the Creator, 29:03 and the seal or sign of God as the Creator, 29:06 the signature of God on His work of creation 29:09 is the holy Sabbath. 29:13 Notice Exodus 31:16-17. 29:16 The Sabbath is spoken of as a sign. 29:18 It says, therefore the children of Israel, 29:20 and we are Israel, spiritually speaking, 29:22 the 144,000 are sealed from the tribes of Israel. 29:26 So it says, "Therefore the children of Israel 29:29 shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath 29:32 throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." 29:35 It is a what? 29:37 A sign that we recognize what? 29:40 That God is our Creator. 29:42 "It is a sign between Me 29:44 and the children of Israel forever. 29:46 For in six days the Lord made the heavens in the earth, 29:49 and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." 29:53 Notice also Ezekiel 20:12 and verse 20. 29:59 "Moreover, I also gave them," what? 30:03 "My Sabbath, God says, to be a," what? 30:06 There it is, a sign or a signature or seal. 30:09 "A sign between them and Me, 30:11 that they might know 30:13 that I am the Lord who sanctifies them." 30:16 And then verse 20, "Hallow my Sabbath." 30:19 That it mean sanctify, keep them holy, 30:21 My Sabbath, 30:22 and they will be once again what? 30:24 A sign between Me and you, 30:27 that you may know that I am the Lord your God. 30:30 What does keeping the Sabbath means? 30:32 It means that we are announcing to the world, 30:36 that God is our Lord that God is the Creator. 30:40 It's the visible sign that we believe 30:44 that creation literally took place six days, 30:47 God rested the seventh. 30:48 And when we rest the seventh, 30:50 we are announcing 30:51 that we believe the creation story. 30:55 By the way, some people might say, well, 30:57 but it says the Bible is, 30:58 in the Bible that the Sabbath is the sign, 31:00 it doesn't say it's the seal. 31:01 Well, in the Bible, 31:03 sign and sealed are used interchangeably. 31:05 Notice Romans 4:11. 31:08 I'm reading now 31:10 from the New International Version, 31:12 speaking about Abraham, and he received the what? 31:16 The sign of circumcision. 31:19 And then it continues, saying what, a what? 31:21 A seal of the righteousness that he had by faith 31:25 while he was still uncircumcised. 31:27 So then he is the father of all who believe, 31:30 but have not been circumcised in order that righteousness 31:33 might be credited to them. 31:35 So sign and seal are used interchangeably. 31:39 The Sabbath is the sign of God or the seal of God. 31:45 But in the Bible, there's a contrary sign 31:48 as we discussed 31:49 in our last presentation this morning. 31:52 Let's go through this again. 31:54 Ezekiel 8:16-18, 31:59 Jerusalem is committing serious abominations, 32:02 the greatest of which was sun worship. 32:05 It says there in verse 16. 32:08 "So He brought me into the inner court 32:11 of the Lord's house, 32:12 and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, 32:15 between the porch and the altar, 32:17 were about twenty five men 32:19 with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, 32:22 and their faces toward the east, 32:24 and they were worshiping the sun toward the east. 32:28 And he said to me, 32:29 'Have you seen this, O son of man? 32:31 Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah 32:33 to commit abominations which they commit here." 32:37 So is worshiping the sun an abomination? 32:40 Absolutely. 32:41 "For they have filled the land with violence, 32:45 then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. 32:48 Indeed, they put the branch to their nose." 32:51 In other words, they snub their nose at Me. 32:53 "Therefore I will act in My fury. 32:57 My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity, 33:01 and though they cry in my ears 33:03 with a loud voice, I will not hear." 33:08 Was everybody in the city of Jerusalem 33:10 committing these abominations, 33:12 or was there a small, faithful remnant? 33:14 There was a small, faithful remnant, 33:17 therefore it was necessary to do what with them? 33:20 It was necessary to seal them 33:24 with a protective seal, 33:26 before the destruction came, correct? 33:29 And so you have this angel 33:31 with the writer's inkhorn in his hand, 33:33 and he's commanded to place a seal 33:36 on the foreheads of those who sigh and cry 33:39 because of the abominations 33:41 that are being committed in the earth. 33:43 And then the command is given to the other destroying angels 33:47 with the battle axes in their hands, 33:49 after he seals the faithful, 33:51 after they're signaled for protection, 33:54 go through the midst of the city, destroy, 33:58 have no pity, and begin where? 34:02 Begin at My sanctuary 34:05 with the religious leaders. 34:09 That's the picture. 34:10 We didn't read the passage, but that's the picture. 34:14 Now, did the Sabbath have anything 34:15 to do with the destruction of Jerusalem? 34:18 The desecration of the Sabbath did it. 34:21 Remember we read this morning that God said to the Jews, 34:24 He said, "If you keep the Sabbath, 34:26 this city is gonna be remained forever." 34:28 In other words, 34:29 it's not gonna be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. 34:31 But if you trample on the Sabbath, 34:34 if you do business on the Sabbath, 34:36 then I'm gonna destroy the city. 34:38 Let's just read Jeremiah 17:27. 34:43 "But if you will not heed Me, to hallow the Sabbath day, 34:49 such as not carrying a burden 34:51 when entering the Gates of Jerusalem 34:53 on the Sabbath day, 34:55 then I will kindle a fire in its gates 34:57 like Nebuchadnezzar did, 34:59 and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, 35:02 and it shall not be quenched." 35:07 Did Sabbath desecration have anything 35:09 to do with the destruction of Jerusalem? 35:11 Yes. 35:12 Did sun worship have anything 35:14 to do with the destruction of Jerusalem? 35:16 Would they have been worshiping the sun 35:19 if they were keeping the Sabbath 35:21 in honor of the Creator? 35:23 Absolutely not. 35:24 So you have the Sabbath and you have the sun, 35:29 the worship of the sun related in this passage, 35:31 would you expect to find something 35:33 so similar in the end time? 35:36 Of course, the Christian world doesn't worship the sun. 35:39 But as we noticed this morning, 35:41 when we spoke about the idol Sabbath, 35:43 worshiping on the day of the sun, 35:46 in principle, 35:47 is the same as worshiping the sun. 35:50 Because the sun was not made for worship, 35:52 it's a secular object. 35:54 The first day of the week was not made for worship, 35:57 it is a secular day. 35:59 So whatever man establishes for worship, 36:02 that God has not established for worship is ultimately what? 36:06 Is ultimately idolatry. 36:09 And so you have this contrast 36:11 between Revelation 13:16-17 and Revelation 14:1. 36:17 Let's read Revelation 14:1 first, 36:20 this is page 411. 36:22 "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 36:27 and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand, 36:29 having His Father's name written," where? 36:32 "On their foreheads." 36:34 Now, you'll notice in the previous chapter, 36:36 that there's another group. 36:38 The faithful have the seal of God 36:40 on their foreheads. 36:41 But in the very previous chapter, 36:44 in verses 16 and 17, you have the other group. 36:47 What does the other group have? 36:49 The mark of the beast. 36:50 Notice Revelation 13:16-17, 36:54 "He causes all, both small and great, 36:57 rich and poor, free and slave, 36:59 to receive a mark on their right hand 37:01 or on their foreheads, 37:03 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, 37:08 or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 37:13 So the question is, does the final controversy 37:17 have to do with the issue of Sabbath 37:20 versus Sunday observance? 37:22 Is the Sabbath the sign of the Creator 37:25 or the seal of the Creator? 37:26 Yes, it's the seal that God put on His work of creation, 37:30 the seventh day. 37:33 Now let's look at an analogy that helps us understand this. 37:37 We mentioned that the fourth commandment 37:40 has three characteristics that identify 37:43 who the lawgiver is. 37:45 First of all, the name of the person 37:49 who is giving the law. 37:51 Secondly, the office or position of the person 37:54 who is giving the law. 37:57 Finally, the jurisdictional territory 38:00 where the lawgiver is, is reigning over. 38:05 Now notice this statement 38:06 that we find in the Spirit of Prophecy, 38:09 Great Controversy, page 452. 38:12 The seal of God's law is found in the fourth commandment. 38:17 This only of all 10 brings to view 38:21 the name and the title of the lawgiver. 38:25 It declares him to be 38:27 the Creator of the heavens and the earth, 38:29 and thus shows his claim to what? 38:32 To reverence and worship above all others. 38:36 Aside from this precept, 38:38 there is nothing in the Decalogue 38:40 to show by whose authority the law is given. 38:43 When the Sabbath was changed by the papal power, 38:46 the seal was taken from the law. 38:50 The disciples of Jesus are called upon to restore it 38:54 by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment 38:56 to its rightful position, 38:58 to its rightful position as the Creator's memorial 39:01 and the sign of His authority. 39:06 Have you ever noticed the Great Seal 39:08 of the President of the United States? 39:10 How many elements does the seal contain? 39:14 It says, Donald Trump, 39:18 that's the name, President, 39:21 that's his title, United States of America, 39:25 that's his jurisdictional territory. 39:29 And you might say, well, 39:30 but that's just seals these days, 39:33 who knows that in the times of the Bible, 39:35 you had to have those three elements for a seal. 39:37 The fact is that I spoke about those seals, 39:40 and in a moment we're gonna come back to that 39:42 where the ancient seals that were stamped 39:44 in the middle of the clay tablet, 39:46 have those three elements, 39:48 because you have to know who the lawgiver is, 39:51 has to be identified. 39:53 You also have to identify 39:55 what right he has to give that law 39:57 as well as what territory that law applies to. 40:01 So you have the testimony of analogy. 40:05 You also have the testimony of archaeology 40:08 as we mentioned this morning. 40:10 The dynastic seals in the city of Ugarit 40:14 were very similar to the Ten Commandments. 40:17 They wrote covenants on both sides 40:20 of the tablets of clay 40:21 and in the middle of the tablet, 40:23 they placed the dynastic seal of the great king. 40:27 The seal had three elements, the name of the lawgiver, 40:31 his title, and his jurisdictional territory. 40:34 The Ten Commandments are very similar. 40:37 And you know, one of those tablets says 40:39 the name of the king is Suppiluliuma, 40:43 king of Ugarit. 40:45 You have those three elements on the seal. 40:48 Now this is what's interesting, 40:50 the parallel between those seals, 40:52 and or those tablets and the Ten Commandments. 40:56 The city was in the general geographical territory 41:00 of Israel, it was in Syria north of Israel. 41:02 The Ten Commandments are also God's covenant 41:05 as we noticed this morning. 41:07 The Ten Commandments were also written on tables, 41:09 stone, yes, not clay, but stone because they were permanent. 41:13 The tables were written on both sides, 41:16 like the ancient seals, 41:19 and in the middle of the tablets, 41:21 what do you have? 41:22 The Sabbath commandment stamped in the middle 41:25 just like on these ancient tablets. 41:28 And the fourth commandment contains the name, 41:30 the office and the title of the lawgiver. 41:34 In Patriarchs and Prophets, page 307, Ellen White wrote, 41:38 the fourth commandment is the only one of all 10 41:42 in which are found both the name 41:43 and title of the lawgiver. 41:46 It is the only one that shows 41:48 by whose authority the law is given. 41:51 Thus, it contains the seal of God 41:54 affixed to His law as evidence of what? 41:58 Of its authenticity. 42:01 What makes a document authentic? 42:04 Because it has the signature or the seal on it. 42:08 So it says affixed to His law as evidence 42:10 of its authenticity as well as what? 42:14 As well as binding force. 42:17 We also have the testimony of history to show 42:20 that the final controversy is going to have to do 42:23 with the fourth commandment of God's law. 42:26 Daniel 7 has a sequence of nations. 42:29 You have a lion which represents Babylon, 42:32 you have a bear, Medo-Persia, you have a leopard, Greece, 42:36 you have a dragon beast, the Roman Empire. 42:38 The dragon beast then sprouts 10 horns, 42:41 the Roman Empire is divided, 42:42 then among the 10 horns rises a little horn. 42:46 So it's a power that arises 42:48 after the Roman Empire is divided, 42:51 speaks blasphemies against the Most High, 42:53 persecute the saints of the Most High, 42:56 its dominion last time times and the dividing of time, 42:59 which is equivalent to 1260 years. 43:03 And there's another characteristic, 43:05 this little horn, which represents the papacy 43:07 very clearly, by the sequence of powers, 43:10 it thought that it could change what? 43:14 That it could actually change God's holy law. 43:19 Does the papacy claim that it has changed God's law, 43:22 that it has the power to change God's law? 43:24 Absolutely. 43:26 So history proves that at the time 43:29 when prophecy indicated, the papacy rose, 43:32 and changed the day of worship from Sabbath, 43:35 the sign of the Creator, to Sunday, 43:38 the sign of the papacy, 43:40 instead of a sign of the Creator. 43:43 In Revelation 12:14-17, I want to read those verses, 43:48 and then we're going to unpack them. 43:50 "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, 43:54 he persecuted the woman 43:55 who gave birth to the male child. 43:57 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, 44:00 that she might fly into the wilderness 44:02 to her place, 44:03 where she is nourished for a time, times, 44:05 and half a time, 44:07 from the presence of the serpent." 44:08 Is that the same time period as a little horn, yes or no? 44:11 Same time period. 44:12 Now notice, "So the serpent spewed 44:15 water out of his mouth, like a flood after the woman, 44:17 that he might cause her 44:19 to be carried away by the flood. 44:21 But the earth helped the woman." 44:22 What is the earth that helped the woman? 44:25 The territory of the earth. 44:26 It doesn't, it's not a beast that rises yet, 44:28 it's the territory. 44:30 There was no United States of America 44:33 when the pilgrims came here. 44:35 This was a colony of Great Britain of England. 44:39 And so it says here, "But the earth helped a woman, 44:43 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood 44:46 which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth." 44:49 So in other words, 44:50 or the United States the territory, 44:52 the United States becomes a refuge for those 44:54 who are fleeing from Europe? 44:56 Do you think the devil was happy 44:57 that the United States provided refuge for those 44:59 who were persecuted in Europe? 45:01 No. 45:02 Is he going to launch a final persecution 45:05 against God's people? 45:07 Yes. 45:08 And what will it be about? 45:09 Notice verse 17, "And the dragon was enraged 45:14 with the woman," 45:16 that's because the earth has helped a woman, 45:18 "and he went to," what? 45:20 "To make war with the remnant of her seed, 45:22 or the rest of her offspring, 45:24 who keep the commandments of God 45:26 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 45:30 So let's notice the sequence. 45:32 The dragon persecutes the faithful church 45:34 for time, times and the dividing of time 45:37 1260 years. 45:40 Towards the end of this period, the earth, 45:42 the territory of the United States 45:44 helps the woman who is persecuted in Europe 45:47 by swallowing up the waters of persecution. 45:50 But then the dragon hates the remnant because of that, 45:53 and will once again persecute the remnant. 45:57 What characterizes that remnant 45:59 that arises the rage of the dragon? 46:03 They keep the commandments of God, 46:06 but they have something else, the testimony of Jesus Christ. 46:10 What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? 46:13 It's the Spirit of Prophecy. 46:16 By the way, do you know that this beast 46:18 that will restore the power to the papacy, 46:21 that makes the image to the beast, 46:22 the beast that rises from the earth 46:24 that has two horns like a lamb? 46:26 Do you know what that beast is called in Revelation 16? 46:29 The false prophet. 46:32 So do you think that God in the last days, 46:35 if the devil is gonna raise up a false prophet, 46:39 God is going to raise up a true prophet 46:42 to counteract the prophetic scenario 46:44 of the false prophet? 46:45 Yes. 46:46 Does Ellen White give us a clear, 46:48 crystal clear picture of end time events, 46:53 correcting futurism and preterism, 46:55 she does in the minutest detail. 46:58 So God not only raised up a remnant 47:01 who teaches that we have to keep 47:02 all of the commandments of God, 47:04 but He raised up a remnant that has the gift of prophecy 47:07 to correct the counterfeit views of Bible prophecy 47:11 that are being taught out there. 47:15 Now, history also proves that the final conflict 47:20 is gonna be concerning Sabbath and Sunday, 47:23 and that the papacy actually changed 47:27 the day of worship. 47:29 Let's notice several statements that we find here. 47:33 For all ages, for ages, 47:34 all Christian nations look to the Catholic Church. 47:38 And as we have seen the various states 47:40 enforced by law, her ordinances as to worship 47:45 and cessation of labor on Sunday. 47:47 Do you notice how she linked up with the state here? 47:50 Protestantism in discarding the authority of the church 47:54 has no good reason for its Sunday theory 47:57 and ought logically to keep Saturday as the Sabbath. 48:01 The state in passing laws 48:03 for the due sanctification of Sunday 48:06 is unwittingly acknowledging 48:09 the authority of the Catholic Church 48:12 and carrying out more or less faithfully 48:15 its prescription. 48:16 Yeah, this is a bold faced admission. 48:19 They're saying that the state did what the church wanted. 48:23 The statement continues, 48:25 the Sunday as a day of the week 48:26 set apart for the obligatory public worship 48:29 of Almighty God is purely a creation 48:34 of the Catholic Church. 48:35 And that's not written by a Protestant, 48:37 this is written by a Roman Catholic. 48:40 Notice the next statement, 48:42 Protestants accept Sunday rather than Saturday 48:45 as the day for public worship. 48:48 After the Catholic Church made the change, 48:51 notice the word change. 48:53 But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize 48:56 that in accepting the Bible, 48:58 in observing the Sunday 49:00 they are accepting the authority of the spokesman 49:04 for the church, the Pope. 49:07 So what are Protestants doing 49:08 following the authority of whom? 49:10 Of the Pope. 49:11 Here's another one. 49:13 Question: What Bible authority is there for changing 49:17 the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week? 49:20 Who gave the Pope the authority to change a command of God? 49:24 Answer: It was the Catholic Church 49:27 that by the authority of Jesus Christ, 49:29 which is not true, has transferred this rest 49:34 from the Bible Sabbath to the Sunday. 49:37 Thus, the observance of Sunday by the Protestants 49:40 is an homage they pay, 49:43 in spite of themselves 49:45 to the authority of the Catholic Church. 49:49 Here's another one. 49:51 What is the third commandment? 49:52 Roman Catholics believe that the third commandment 49:55 is the one that speaks about the observance of the Sabbath. 49:58 But anyway, what is the third commandment? 50:01 Answer: The third commandment is remember 50:04 that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. 50:06 Question: Which is the Sabbath day? 50:09 Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. 50:12 Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? 50:16 Answer: The Catholic Church after changing the day 50:21 of rest from Saturday, 50:23 the seventh day of the week to Sunday, 50:25 the first day made the third commandment 50:27 referred to Sunday, 50:29 as the day to be kept as the Lord's day. 50:31 See, they don't even try to hide 50:33 that they were the ones who changed the day of worship, 50:36 just like the Bible says the little horn did. 50:39 Here's another one. 50:41 Prove to me from the Bible alone, 50:43 that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. 50:46 There is no such law in the Bible. 50:47 It is the law 50:49 of the Holy Catholic Church alone. 50:51 The Bible says, 50:52 remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 50:54 The Catholic Church says no, by my what? 50:59 She claiming to be god on earth. 51:01 Absolutely, by my divine power, 51:04 I abolish the Sabbath day and command you 51:08 to keep holy the first day of the week. 51:10 And lo, the entire civilized world 51:13 bows down in reverent obedience 51:16 to the command of the Holy Catholic Church. 51:20 Here's another one. 51:22 Of course, the Catholic Church 51:23 claims that the change was her act. 51:26 And the act is a what? 51:28 A mark of her ecclesiastical power. 51:32 Here's another one. 51:34 There's many of them, a word about Sunday. 51:37 God said, remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. 51:40 The Sabbath was Saturday, not Sunday. 51:43 Why then do we keep Sunday holy instead of Saturday? 51:46 The church altered the observance of the Sabbath 51:49 to the observance of Sunday. 51:51 Protestants who say they go by the Bible 51:54 and the Bible only, 51:55 and that they do not believe anything 51:57 that is not in the Bible 51:59 must be rather puzzled by the keeping of Sunday, 52:02 when God distinctly said, keep holy the Sabbath day. 52:07 The word Sunday does not come anywhere in the Bible. 52:10 So without knowing it, 52:12 they're obeying the authority of the Catholic Church. 52:17 I read the one by Father O'Brien, 52:20 in the work the book The Faith of Millions 52:21 he taught at the University of Notre Dame 52:24 for many years in the theology department. 52:27 What did he say? 52:28 He says, listen, Protestants by keeping Sunday, 52:32 they have not been able to sever themselves 52:34 totally from the mother. 52:36 They are like a little boy, who runs away from home, 52:41 but still carries in his pocket, 52:43 a picture of his mother, or a lack of her hair. 52:47 In other words, 52:49 there has not been a total severing of Protestants 52:52 from the Roman Catholic Church. 52:53 And that's why 52:55 they are quickly returning to mother. 53:00 Now, let's go to page 417. 53:05 We're almost to the end. 53:07 Let's go to the bottom of the page. 53:10 The Sabbath will be the great test 53:13 of loyalty, for it is the point of truth, 53:17 especially controverted. 53:19 When the final test 53:20 shall be brought to bear upon men, 53:22 then the line of distinction will be drawn between those 53:26 who serve God and those who serve Him not. 53:30 While the observance of the false Sabbath 53:32 in compliance with the law of the state, 53:35 contrary to the fourth commandment, 53:37 will be avowal, that's an announcement 53:40 of allegiance to a power that is an opposition to God. 53:44 The keeping of a true Sabbath in obedience to God's law 53:48 is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. 53:51 While one class by accepting the sign of submission 53:53 to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, 53:57 the other choosing the talk of allegiance 54:00 to divine authority. 54:01 Receive the seal of God. 54:06 Are only literal Jews gonna be sealed with the seal of God? 54:12 Of course not. 54:13 People from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 54:16 are gonna be sealed with the seal of God. 54:19 That's why the messages, 54:20 the three angels' messages 54:21 are proclaimed to the whole world. 54:23 That proves that the 144,000 the end time generation 54:27 are not literal Jews. 54:29 They are spiritual Jews. 54:31 They truly are committed to Jesus Christ 54:34 as Savior and Lord. 54:36 I want to mention one further thing. 54:40 You'll notice that the seal of God 54:42 is placed only on the forehead. 54:45 Why? 54:47 Because God's people will serve God 54:51 totally and completely 54:53 because they're persuaded in their mind 54:54 that that's what they need to do. 54:57 On the other hand, there are those 54:59 who receive the mark of the beast, 55:01 they will receive it where? 55:03 On the forehead or on their right hand. 55:07 Why would they receive it on their forehead? 55:09 Because they are totally persuaded and convinced 55:13 that Sunday is the day that they're supposed to keep. 55:16 They are totally and completely deceived. 55:19 Why on the right hand? 55:21 Because the right hand represents the ability to work. 55:25 There will be people 55:26 who know that the Sabbath is a day of rest. 55:29 They are not deceived in following the beast, 55:33 they will receive the seal on their hand, 55:37 which means that they will do it 55:38 out of convenience, 55:40 because they want to be able to work. 55:42 And they don't want to be subjects 55:44 of the death decree even though they know 55:46 in their minds, 55:47 they have not given their minds over to the beast. 55:50 Are you following me or not? 55:52 It's the same way that Adam and Eve sinned. 55:54 Let me ask you, 55:56 did Adam and Eve sin differently? 55:58 Yes, they did. 56:00 Eve was totally deceived. 56:03 In her mind, she was convinced the devil 56:06 took possession of her mind. 56:08 And she was totally convinced 56:10 that what the serpent was said was true. 56:13 How about Adam? 56:15 Did Adam know that Eve had blown it? 56:18 Yes. 56:20 Why did he sin? 56:21 He sinned out of convenience. 56:24 He said, I cannot bear the thought of this, 56:28 the thought of living without my precious Eve. 56:33 He knew that she had done wrong. 56:35 In other words, his mind was not deceived. 56:38 He did it out of convenience. 56:41 So there will be two kinds of people 56:43 that receive the mark of the beast. 56:45 Those who are totally persuaded that the beast is right. 56:48 They're deceived in their minds And there will be those 56:51 that know that the beast is wrong 56:53 but to be able to buy or sell, 56:55 to be able to carry on business, 56:57 to be able to continue living 57:00 because a death decree has been given, 57:02 they will say, we know that this isn't right, 57:05 but we will receive the mark on our hand. 57:10 So this is that conflict, 57:13 this is the trial that awaits God's people. 57:18 And I trust that as we've studied these lessons, 57:21 that our faith has grown, 57:23 we are stronger Seventh-day Adventists. 57:26 We are more convicted and convinced that God 57:29 has given this church the truth, 57:32 and that we will ask God to give us the ability 57:35 to go out and share the marvelous message 57:38 that God has given 57:40 to the Seventh-day Adventist Church 57:41 in his present truth. 57:44 This church has the truth, and Satan knows it. 57:48 That's why he's causing 57:49 all kinds of internal division in fighting, 57:52 because he doesn't want the truth 57:54 as it is in Jesus to be proclaimed. 57:57 May we be among those 57:59 that will proclaim God's message 58:02 with the utmost power of the Spirit. |
Revised 2021-11-04