Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230024S
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00:01 Folks, we're almost to the end of our study
00:03 on the three cosmic messages... 00:05 that's the three angels' messages of Revelation chapter 14 00:07 and my Friends, we're not quite to the end just yet, 00:10 we're on Lesson Number 12 entitled: 00:12 The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, Part 2, 00:15 and again, it's still not too late 00:17 to get a copy of the Lesson so you can study along with us, 00:19 so, simply go to: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:23 again that's 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:25 you can access all of the information there 00:28 and even download a digital copy for free. 00:30 But Folks, don't go anywhere, 00:32 you're not going to miss this Study... 00:33 things are about to get exciting here 00:35 on 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:37 Music... 01:07 Ryan: Hello Friends, you're watching 01:08 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, my name is Ryan Day 01:10 and as always, we want to thank you for joining us this week... 01:13 every week as we have been studying 01:15 the three angels' messages of Revelation 14: 01:18 The Three Cosmic Messages 01:20 as the title of our Quarterly written by Pastor Mark Finley 01:23 and Guys, what do you think? 01:24 Has it been a blessing? 01:26 Panel: Ooooh! yes... a tremendous blessing. 01:27 Ryan: This has been phenomenal, 01:29 I love the three angels' messages. 01:30 This is God's end-time message 01:31 and we're excited to have been able to study it and... 01:33 but we're not through yet, we're on Lesson Number 12 01:35 which is entitled: 01:37 The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, Part 2. 01:40 Got to have two parts 01:41 when you're talking about these two subjects 01:43 because they're heavy hitters. 01:44 But nonetheless, let us go ahead and introduce 01:46 our Sabbath School Panel at this time, 01:47 to my left is Ms. Shelley Quinn. 01:49 Shelley: It's a joy to be here. 01:50 My Lesson on Monday is: The Falling Away. 01:54 Ryan: Hmmm... good. 01:55 To your left is Pastor James Rafferty. 01:57 Rafferty: Good to be here, Ryan, 01:59 I have Tuesday's Lesson which is: Satan's Final Strategy. 02:01 Ryan: Wonderful and then to your left is Pastor John Lomacang. 02:05 Mine is simply: The Mark of the Beast. 02:07 Panel: Laughter. 02:08 Ryan: All right, The Mark of the Beast 02:09 and then, of course, last but not least Ms. Jill Morikone. 02:12 Jill: Thank you, Ryan, I have Thursday: The Sabbath Test. 02:15 Ryan: All right, yes, this is definitely going to be 02:18 one of those that you're not going to want to miss, 02:20 in fact, we encourage you to share this material 02:23 with as many people as possible. 02:25 Download the 3ABN Plus App... 02:26 you can send the... the... 02:28 you know, all the links that you need to everyone. 02:30 You can also download the material 02:31 right on to your computer or phone 02:33 and so, it's exciting to be able to share God's Word 02:36 in these last days. 02:37 Before we get started though, 02:38 I would like to go ahead and have a prayer 02:40 and then we're going to dive right into the Lesson, 02:41 so, Pastor James, would you pray for us? 02:43 James: Yes, let's pray, 02:45 "Father, we just want to thank you again 02:46 for this opportunity to study... to learn... to grow. 02:49 We want to thank you for everyone that's tuning in. 02:52 We want to ask that you're Holy Spirit 02:53 will guide our hearts and their hearts to Jesus 02:56 and we pray in His name, amen. " 02:58 Panel: Amen... amen. 02:59 Ryan: Our Memory Text for this week comes from Revelation 03:04 chapter 7, verses 2 and 3, 03:07 and the Bible says, 03:08 "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 03:11 having the seal of the living God. 03:14 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels 03:17 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 03:21 saying, 'Do not harm the earth, or the sea, 03:24 or the trees 03:25 till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. '" 03:29 And I always just like to remind people 03:32 that the Mark of the Beast is not something new 03:34 in the sense that it's a new idea, 03:36 because the devil does not have any original ideas. 03:38 He steals all of his ideas from God. 03:41 God had His seal first... His mark first... 03:44 His mark of authority... 03:45 His sign of authority first 03:46 and, of course, the devil comes along and says, 03:48 "Ah, God's got His mark... 03:50 God's got His seal... 03:51 well, I'm going to have my mark. " 03:53 And notice, we'll see as God's mark if also in the forehead, 03:56 well, the devil says, 03:58 "Mine's going to be in the forehead 03:59 and in the hand as well. " 04:00 So, again, this is a counterfeit that the devil is doing. 04:03 But before we set up for what this Seal of God... 04:05 this Mark of the Beast issue really is all about, 04:08 we need to dive deep into Sabbath afternoon's lesson first 04:11 and it's going to set us up for Sunday's Lesson, 04:13 entitled: The Deadly Wound. 04:14 But I like what Pastor Mark Finley had to write 04:17 on Sabbath afternoon's lesson. 04:18 He said, "In the fifteenth century, 04:20 the Piedmont valleys, 04:22 high in the Alps of northern Italy, 04:24 were home to the Waldenses, 04:26 a people determined to stay faithful to their understanding 04:29 of the Bible. 04:30 As the result of their steadfast loyalty to Christ, 04:33 they were fiercely persecuted. 04:35 In A.D. 1488, 04:38 the Waldenses in the Valley of Loyse... " I'm guessing, 04:41 that' how you say it, 04:43 "were brutally murdered by the Roman Church for their faith. 04:46 Another wave of persecution came in the seventeenth century, 04:49 when the duke of Savoy sent an army of 8,000 04:53 into their territory 04:55 and demanded that the local populace 04:57 quarter his troops in their homes. 04:59 They did as he requested, 05:01 but this was a strategy to give the soldiers easy access 05:04 to their victims. 05:05 On April 24, 1655, at 4:00 A.M. 05:10 a signal was given for the massacre to begin. 05:13 This time the death toll was more than 4,000. 05:17 History, unfortunately, is often repeated. 05:20 The 'mark of the beast' prophecy 05:22 is about the final link 05:24 in an ungodly chain of religious persecution 05:27 that goes back through the ages. 05:29 Like the persecutions of the past, 05:32 it is designed to force everyone to conform 05:35 to a certain set of beliefs 05:37 and an approved system of worship. 05:39 And, of course, as always, though, 05:41 God will have a people who will not capitulate. " 05:45 Amen to that... God's people are going to stand strong 05:47 on His Word... and we're going to be going into Sunday's lesson 05:50 which is going to set us up 05:51 for this end-time fulfillment of this... 05:53 all that we're talking about 05:55 and we have to talk about the deadly wound 05:57 because again, there's a deadly wound that's given 05:59 and we know that in the future 06:00 that deadly wound is going to be healed. 06:02 It's been healing... it's not quite there yet, 06:04 but we're going to see that my friends, in the near future. 06:06 As we have already studied the beast powers 06:09 of Revelation 13 and 14 06:10 represent a world-wide system of false worship, 06:12 but right now, what we're going to look at 06:14 is that period of time in which this System... 06:18 this Antichrist Roman-Papal-Church-State Power 06:21 dominates for 1260 years. 06:23 Now, where do we get this from? 06:24 There are a few places in Scripture 06:26 where this is mentioned multiple times 06:27 in a few different ways 06:29 and we see it in Revelation chapter 13 verse 5, 06:31 again, that's Revelation 13 verse 5 where it says, 06:34 "And he was given a mouth speaking great things 06:37 and blasphemies, 06:38 and he was given authority to continue 06:41 for forty-two months. " 06:43 And you know that this is talking about prophetic time 06:45 because no one speaks like that, right? 06:47 You know... you know... when somebody asks someone, 06:49 "How old are you?" 06:51 You don't say, "Oh, that person's 54 months" 06:53 or "that person's 72 months" 06:55 or "42 months. " 06:56 No, no, no, no, no... 06:58 this is speaking of a prophetic time period. 06:59 And we know that in the Bible period of 42 months... 07:01 in a year there was... there was 12 months in a year, obviously, 07:05 but there were 30 days in each month 07:06 and so, if you do your multiplication correctly, 07:08 42 times 30 brings you to 1260 days... 07:12 but we know as we're going to talk in just a moment 07:14 the year-day principle applies. 07:17 Also, Revelation chapter 12 it's mentioned here twice 07:20 in the same chapter and in two different time frames 07:23 but speaking of the same exact time period 07:26 and it says here, "Then the woman fled into the wilderness... " 07:29 this is Revelation 12 verse 6 07:31 and then we're going to skip to verse 14. 07:33 So, Revelation 12 verse 6 says, 07:34 "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, 07:36 where she has a place prepared by God, 07:37 that they should feed her there 07:39 one thousand two hundred and sixty days. " 07:42 Okay, so that's the same as the 42 months we just read 07:44 in Revelation 13, 07:46 again 1,260 days coming out to 1,260 years. 07:51 The woman flees into the wilderness. 07:53 This is the pure woman of Revelation 12... 07:55 this is the pure side of God's people 07:57 and, of course, they're fleeing the persecution 07:59 of that harlot woman of Revelation chapter 17. 08:02 But then in verse 14 it says, 08:04 "But the woman was given two wings of an eagle... 08:06 of a great eagle, 08:07 that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, 08:10 where she is nourished for... " notice, "a time 08:13 and times and a half a time, 08:15 from the presence of the serpent. " 08:18 And we see also that same... that same time period mentioned, 08:21 the way it's mentioned that the time, times and half a time 08:23 from Daniel chapter 7 verse 25 where it's talking about 08:26 that Little Horn Power... that... that Papal Antichrist System 08:29 in the form of the Little Horn here. 08:31 "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, 08:34 he shall persecute the saints of the Most High, 08:36 and shall intend to change times and laws. " 08:39 But then it says, "And the saints shall be given into his hand 08:41 for a time and times and half a time. " 08:44 Of course, time meaning one... a period of one-year 08:46 times... two years 08:48 and then, of course, 08:49 the dividing... or the half of that time 08:50 is half a year... that's three-and-a-half years. 08:52 If you calculate that, 08:54 in the days, of course, there's 360 days in a year 08:57 that would come out to 1260 days 09:01 but we know, we have to apply that year-day principle 09:04 now, where do we get this from? 09:06 We get it from the few places in Scripture, 09:08 there's actually a few places in Scripture 09:09 where this... this principle is applied 09:11 in which someone is speaking of a prophetic time period 09:14 or in prophetic terms 09:15 and they convert days to years. 09:18 We see this in Numbers chapter 14 and verse 34, 09:22 God is speaking to the children of Israel 09:24 and He tells them, "Look, 09:25 for every day that you have wandered in this wilderness 09:28 so far... you're now going to wander that many days 09:31 converted to years. 09:32 We see it in Numbers 14:34 in which it says, 09:35 "According to the number of the days 09:36 in which you spied out the land, forty days, 09:38 for each day you shall bear your guilt... " how many? 09:43 "One year, namely forty years, 09:45 and you shall know My rejection. " 09:48 So, I make that correction, 09:49 it was 40 days that they spied out the land 09:50 not 40 days in the wilderness, 09:52 I just want to make that correction there. 09:53 Ezekiel chapter 4 verse 6 09:55 also applies the same year-day principle, 09:58 which... which the Scripture says, 09:59 "And when you have completed them, 10:01 lie again on your right side; 10:02 then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah 10:04 forty days. " 10:06 But notice he says, "I've laid on you a day for each year. " 10:08 So, they weren't supposed to be there 40 literal days 10:11 but rather 40 years. 10:13 And even Jesus... 10:14 did you know Jesus applied the year-day principle? 10:16 The... the... some of Herod's men came 10:19 and they confronted Jesus about Herod's plans 10:21 and Herod was wanting to know all about Jesus 10:24 and what He was doing 10:25 and they were just making it hard for Christ 10:26 and Christ responded... speaking of Herod... 10:28 notice what He said to Herod's men, He said, 10:30 "He said, 'Go, tell that fox, 10:31 "Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today, 10:35 tomorrow, and the third day 10:36 I shall be perfected. "'" 10:38 Now, this was not in the last three days of Jesus' ministry, 10:41 this was actually toward the beginning of Jesus' ministry 10:44 when He said this... 10:45 He was applying the today... the tomorrow 10:46 and, of course, the third day 10:48 as you know, the three years that was remaining 10:49 in His ministry. 10:51 So, my Friends, what we see is 10:52 pertaining to prophetic time period 10:54 when we are dealing with sequential time prophecies, 10:57 in other words, more... 10:58 in multiple years or multiple days 11:00 we convert those days to years in most cases 11:03 and so, in this case, we have to understand 11:05 the backstory of how this deadly wound is set up 11:09 because we're not talking about 1,260 literal days 11:13 but 1,260 years that this Roman-Church-State Power 11:17 would rule supreme. 11:18 But, of course, we know that time period to be from 538 A.D. 11:23 to 1798 A.D. 11:25 It was in 538 that Justinian, of course, gave that power 11:30 over to the Pope 11:31 to be both a political and ecclesiastical leader 11:34 throughout all of Western Europe. 11:35 But the... you know, the ground had to be kind of... 11:37 the foundation had to be set up even prior to that 11:39 and I just like to give a little bit of the back story 11:41 because I find it to be ironic 11:43 that it was the French who actually helped bring 11:45 the Papacy to power in the beginning 11:48 and it was the French that took them down. 11:50 If you back up a little... just a few years before 538 A.D., 11:53 you come to 508 A.D. and it was by that time 11:56 that one of the most significant and influential... 11:59 the most powerful kings throughout Western Europe 12:02 Clovis, the Kind of the Franks 12:03 which, of course, became known as the French, 12:05 he converted to the Catholic Faith 12:07 and, of course, this was... 12:09 this was an important event 12:10 that paved the way for the union between Church and State, 12:12 which held sway throughout the Middle Ages 12:14 and, of course, Clovis helped, basically, give authority 12:18 and helped set up the dominant influence of the Papacy 12:21 between 508 and 538 A.D. 12:25 Now, during that time period, between 508 and 538... 12:28 before the Papacy was given official authority 12:31 by the Emperor, 12:32 you know, obviously, there were ten major nations 12:35 that were, obviously, the divisions of Rome at that time, 12:38 you have the Alemani who became known as the Germans, 12:41 the Burgundians... the Swiss... 12:42 the Francs became known as the French, 12:44 the Lombards... the Italians... 12:45 the Saxons... the English... 12:47 the Suevi... or the Suevi... the Portuguese... 12:50 the Visigoths... the Spanish 12:51 and then you have these three that were completely wiped out: 12:53 the Heruli... the Vandals... the Ostrogoths... 12:56 and it's interesting that it was in AD 493 12:58 that the Heruli were wiped out with the help of Emperor Zeno 13:02 in an... we see this in Daniel 8 where it says, 13:05 "An army was given over to the Little Horn... " 13:06 he had to use the political powers to get what he wanted. 13:09 So, he teamed up with the emperors 13:11 and with the kings and the queens of the nations... 13:14 the vandals, of course, were taken down in 534 A.D. 13:17 Notice how we're making our way 13:19 again to 538 A.D. in which the Ostrogoths were wiped out. 13:23 And my Friends, it was in that year... 13:25 you can go read this in A.C. Flick's 13:27 The Rise of the Mediaeval Church page 168 13:29 where he confirms... 13:30 this historian, A.C. Flick, he confirms that yes, the... 13:33 the... the Bishop of Rome... 13:35 the Pope of Rome was given that authority... 13:38 the political and church authority 13:40 over all of Western Europe. 13:41 And now, if you count now from 538... 13:44 something is got to happen in 1798 13:46 and we know that it was definitely in 1798 13:50 in which the French... Napolean Bonaparte 13:53 he says, "I'm not sharing my authority with the Pope. " 13:55 He sent his man, Berthier, into Rome... 13:57 they took the Pope captive 13:59 and he spent... 14:01 he spent... basically many, many years in prison 14:04 in which he would eventually die 14:05 and it was there at that time that the church was stripped 14:07 of their political authority. 14:09 They were just a church... 14:10 they were given a deadly wound 14:12 in which they weren't able to carry out all of their deeds. 14:14 That is the deadly wound that is mentioned now... 14:16 it is still healing now but it's not quite healed 14:18 but it will be healed as the Bible says... soon. 14:21 Shelley: I, so enjoyed being on this Panel 14:25 with all of you Bible students 14:27 and we all learn so much. 14:28 I'm Shelley Quinn 14:30 and Monday's Lesson is: The Falling Away... 14:34 the apostasia... 14:36 the turning away from God's Word... God's truths... 14:40 turning away from God. 14:42 We're going to look at 2nd Thessalonians 2 14:46 and see what Paul predicts about the last days 14:51 and what are the identifying marks for the beast... 14:55 the Antichrist power. 14:57 2nd Thessalonians verse 2, let's look at 3 and 4, 15:02 2nd Thessalonians 2 verse 3, 15:05 "Let no one deceive you by any means; 15:08 for that Day will not come... " 15:10 he's... he's trying to assure the Thessalonians 15:13 that no... those are false reports 15:16 to think that Jesus has returned. 15:18 He says, "that day will not come 15:20 unless the falling away... " 15:23 in the Greek... that's the apostasia 15:25 "comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, 15:31 the son of perdition, 15:33 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God 15:37 or all that is worshiped, 15:39 so that he sits as God in the temple of God, 15:45 showing himself that he is God. " 15:49 Now, look down to verse 9, 15:51 2nd Thessalonians 2 verse 9, 15:54 "The coming of the lawless one... " 15:56 lawless one... being the one who 15:59 does not keep the commandments of God, 16:02 "is according to the working of Satan, 16:05 with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 16:08 and with all unrighteous deception 16:12 among those who perish... " 16:14 why did they perish? 16:16 he said, "because they did not receive 16:20 the love of the truth, 16:23 that they may be saved. " 16:25 Panel: Hmmm... 16:27 Shelley: We, here, try to give you 16:30 a love for the truth 16:32 because it is imperative to your salvation. 16:35 So, the lawless one here in 2nd Thessalonians 2... 16:39 the beast power you're referring to in Revelation 13 and 14, 16:45 and the Little Horn Power that is described in Daniel 7, 16:50 share many similarities of identifying characteristics. 16:56 So, it reveals that Paul in Thessalonians... 17:00 John in Revelation... 17:02 and Daniel in the book of Daniel 17:04 are speaking of the same power. 17:07 Panel: Right. 17:08 Shelley: This power... history proves is Papal Rome. 17:12 This is what the Reformers believed as well 17:15 but here's the root of it. 17:18 Satan the great deceiver wants to be exalted. 17:22 He wants to sit in the temple of God 17:25 and he is working through human agencies 17:29 to accomplish his purpose. 17:31 I want to read a note from the Adult Bible Study Guide, 17:35 Mark Finley put this very well. 17:37 "It is extremely important to remember 17:40 that Bible prophecy 17:43 is describing a system of religion 17:46 that has compromised God's Word, 17:50 substituted human traditions for the gospel, 17:54 and one... " this System... 17:58 "that has drifted away from biblical truth. 18:01 These prophecies... " he goes on to say, 18:04 "are given by a God of incredible love... " 18:08 prophecy is never meant to scare us... 18:11 prophecy is to lead us to truth. 18:16 And so, he said, 18:18 These prophecies are given by a God of incredible love 18:20 to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. 18:24 They are a rebuke of apostate religious organizations 18:29 that have departed from God's Word, 18:33 though not necessarily 18:37 to the people in these organizations. " 18:41 You will remember Revelation 18... 18:43 God's making this final appeal of mercy 18:47 and He's crying, "Come out of her My people. " 18:50 So, our message is about a System 18:53 that has deceived millions 18:55 and though deceived, 18:57 these people are much loved by Christ. 19:02 Here is his summary point. 19:05 "Hence... " these people who are in the apostate Systems 19:10 who are so loved by Christ... 19:11 "Hence, we must treat them accordingly. " 19:16 Panel: Hmmm... 19:18 Shelley: Apostasy is turning back from God 19:21 to turn away from the authority of His Word... 19:24 to fall away from the truth. 19:27 In Mark 7:13, 19:28 Jesus told the people of His day... 19:32 the religious leaders, 19:33 "You're making the word of God of no effect 19:37 through your tradition... " 19:39 what we've seen... and the Catholic Church clearly admits 19:44 that Sabbath was changed... 19:49 the sanctity from the seventh-day Sabbath of... 19:52 that God blessed... that God sanctified... 19:55 they clearly claim... "We changed it to Sunday. " 19:59 So, that is a tradition of man 20:02 and Jesus would say today, 20:05 "That is nullifying the Word of God. " 20:07 You know what? 20:08 Here's something that's interesting. 20:10 The devil doesn't care if you fall away on the right ditch 20:15 or on the left ditch. 20:16 What do I mean? 20:18 The counterfeit gospel... 20:20 any time it doesn't line up with God, 20:23 if you fall away on the right ditch, 20:27 you become legalistic. 20:29 Listen to Galatians 5:4, 20:31 "You have become estranged from Christ... " 20:35 who? You... 20:37 "who attempt to be justified by the law; 20:41 you have fallen from grace. " 20:43 Boy! if you've got any legalistic tendencies... 20:46 if you're thinking any way you can save yourself, 20:49 or that you can contribute, 20:51 listen to these words... "you are fallen from grace. " 20:55 God's covenant of salvation by grace 20:58 is righteousness by faith through Christ Jesus 21:02 and He expects total dependence upon Him. 21:06 Trying to save yourself through works is legalism 21:10 and I'm just going to tell you, 21:12 legalism is the earmark 21:15 of all false forms of religion. 21:19 Obedience... 21:21 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 21:23 Shelley: Obedience is not legalism. 21:25 Jill: That's right. 21:26 Shelley: Obedience is love 21:28 and love is the highest expression of worship to God. 21:32 Love is the pathway to God's... 21:35 obedience is the pathway 21:39 to God's covenant blessings. 21:41 Panel: Yes. 21:42 Shelley: So, you can fall off on the right ditch 21:45 through a counterfeit gospel 21:46 of you can fall off on the left ditch 21:48 through a counterfeit gospel. 21:49 And when that happens, 21:51 listen to this, 21:53 Jude 1 verse 4, 21:55 "Certain men crept in unnoticed, 21:58 who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, 22:02 ungodly men, 22:03 who turn the grace of our God into lewdness 22:07 and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. " 22:12 Panel: Hmmm... 22:14 Shelley: Someone in a church told me 22:16 that someone came and gave them a message of grace 22:19 and the Elder of their church 22:21 came out and said, 22:22 "Well, hallelujah... 22:23 I can come out of the closet about my pornography now, 22:26 I'm saved by grace. " 22:28 Let me tell you something, 22:29 somebody gave an unbalanced message of grace 22:33 if that was his impression 22:34 because Christ did not suffer and die for us 22:38 so that we can live like the devil. 22:41 God's goal of the everlasting covenant 22:45 is to make us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 22:50 He is going to justify us and sanctify us. 22:54 He's going... He paid the penalty for our sin, 22:58 but He will definitely separate us from sin. 23:02 2nd Timothy chapter 4, 23:04 we're going to begin with verse 1, 23:06 2nd Timothy 4:1, 23:08 Paul's writing... this is his... his... 23:12 his 2nd imprisonment in Rome, 23:14 he's about to die, 23:16 this is his final farewell to his beloved Timothy, 23:20 and he says, 23:21 "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, 23:25 who will judge the living and the dead 23:28 at His appearing and His kingdom: 23:32 Preach to the word! 23:34 Be ready in season and out of season. 23:36 Convince, rebuke, exhort, 23:39 with all longsuffering and teaching. 23:43 For the time will come 23:45 when they will not endure sound doctrine, 23:48 but according to their own desires, 23:50 because they have itching ears... " 23:53 they want to hear a message that pleases them... 23:57 that lets them off the hook 23:59 for any accountability before God. 24:01 "They will heap up for themselves teachers; 24:04 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, 24:06 and be turned aside to fables. " 24:10 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 24:11 Shelley: Let's look at 2nd Thessalonians 2 verse 11, 24:15 "For this reason, God will send them strong delusion, 24:19 that they should believe a lie, 24:21 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth 24:25 but had pleasure in unrighteousness. " 24:30 Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, 24:35 "Whatever you want men to do... do also to them. " 24:39 If you love somebody, you have got to go out 24:44 and tell them the truth. 24:46 Panel: Hmmm... 24:47 Ryan: Amen... thank you Shelley so much. 24:49 My Friends, we're just now getting this engine going, 24:52 we're not quite through just yet, 24:53 we're going to take a short break and we'll be right back. 24:57 Music... 25:02 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 25:06 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 25:09 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 25:14 A clean design makes it easy 25:17 to find the Program you are looking for. 25:18 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:22 so you can follow along. 25:24 Sharing is easy. 25:25 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 25:28 Share a Link... 25:30 Save a Life... for Eternity. 25:33 Ryan: Hello Friends, welcome back to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 25:36 We're going to be passing it to Pastor James Rafferty 25:38 at this time for Tuesday's Lesson. 25:40 Rafferty: Tuesday's Lesson... Satan's Final Strategy 25:44 and I really appreciate 25:45 Ryan, what you shared about the history. 25:46 You know, someone has said 25:48 that those who are not familiar with history 25:50 are doomed to repeat it 25:51 and, of course, Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, 25:53 "There's nothing new under the sun. 25:55 What has been... will be. " 25:56 And that's exactly what the Quarterly brings out 25:59 for our Lesson this week. 26:00 Also, appreciate what you shared, Shelley. 26:02 You know, God has given us Bible prophecy 26:05 not to scare us but to prepare us... 26:07 to get us ready... 26:08 to know what's coming around the corner 26:10 so it doesn't take us by surprise. 26:12 So we can be ready for it. 26:14 Tuesday's Lesson... Satan's Final Strategy... 26:16 the Quarterly says this, 26:18 "Surveys reveal a deep lack of trust 26:20 in institutions and governments. 26:22 Millions wonder, 26:24 'Where is there someone who is morally fit 26:28 to lead the world?' 26:30 Revelation's prophecies identify the Papacy. " 26:33 Now we identify this power as the beast in Revelation 26:37 but that's a symbolic word. 26:40 It's identified in Daniel 7:17 and 23, 26:43 as an earthly power or kingdom or king. 26:46 We're identified this earthly power/king as the Papacy. 26:50 Ryan did a great job giving us that history 26:52 and leading us down through time. 26:53 Shelley also went to 2nd Thessalonians 26:55 and so, we're going to look at this in a little more detail 26:57 because 2nd Thessalonians uses a specific word 27:01 when it identifies this apostasy 27:03 and this power that would rise up 27:05 and put itself in the place of God... 27:07 the Vicar of the Son of God... it claims to be. 27:10 It uses the phrase, "the son of perdition... " 27:12 and that phrase is unique to two characters in the Bible... 27:17 to the Papal System 27:19 and the person who leads that System 27:21 and also to Judas... who is the one who betrayed Jesus. 27:24 He was identified by Jesus as the Son of Perdition. 27:27 Now, here's something really interesting. 27:28 Jesus is identifying Judas in John chapter 13 and verse 19, 27:34 I'd like us to look there in John chapter 13 verse 19 27:37 because this really helps us 27:39 to solidify the reason why God has given us Bible prophecy 27:43 in the context of the Mark of the Beast. 27:46 God doesn't want any of us to be surprised 27:49 about the Mark of the Beast. 27:50 So, this is what Jesus says in John chapter 13 and verse 19. 27:54 "Now I tell you before it comes... " 27:58 that's Bible prophecy right there... 28:01 "I'm telling you something ahead of time before it comes to pass. 28:03 that when it comes to pass, 28:05 you may believe that I am He. " 28:09 Panel: Hmmm... 28:10 Rafferty: "Now I'm telling you... before it comes to pass... " 28:12 Bible prophecy... "that when it comes to pass, 28:14 you may believe that I am He. " 28:16 Now this... in this context, 28:18 Jesus is specifically talking about Judas 28:20 and the betrayal of Judas. 28:22 That's what He's talking about. 28:23 He's talking about the son of perdition. 28:25 Panel: Right. 28:26 James: You see, we have a son of perdition 28:27 in the end of time 28:29 and Jesus had a son of perdition in His time. 28:30 There's nothing new under the sun 28:31 and the son of perdition in Christ's day 28:33 was a disciple. 28:35 The son of perdition in Christ's day 28:36 was one who was close to Christ... 28:38 one who followed... 28:39 one who was given power and authority 28:41 and had a religious ah... ah... ah... appearance. 28:44 The son of perdition in Christ's day was one of His own. 28:47 Panel: Hmmm... 28:48 Rafferty: The son of perdition at the end of time... 28:49 there's nothing new under the sun 28:51 is a professed religious power... 28:53 one who claims to be close with Christ. 28:55 Christ exposed him to the disciples in John 13:19, 29:00 Why? Because He wanted us 29:01 to realize that Jesus knew what was coming. 29:05 He revealed prophecy to us so that we would have faith 29:08 not in the fulfillment of the prophecy... 29:10 you can know prophecies 29:12 but without love, ha... if profits you nothing. 29:14 Not the prophecy only 29:17 but that prophecy would build faith in Jesus 29:20 that we would actually... 29:22 through understanding Bible prophecy, 29:23 recognize that wooo... Jesus is the author of prophecy, 29:26 this amazing... He's... He's got this all figured out. 29:28 He knows what's going on. 29:30 Now, again, we not talking here about individuals, 29:33 we're talking about institutions. 29:34 Panel: Okay. 29:36 Rafferty: God is identifying institutions. 29:37 There are a lot of individuals in those institutions 29:39 whether they are religious institutions 29:41 or federal government institutions 29:42 or health institutions, 29:44 there are lot of individuals in those institutions 29:46 that are God's people 29:48 and God has called us to enlighten those 29:51 who are still in this confusion. 29:53 How? Well, it's not really our job, 29:56 it's God working through us through His Word 29:58 to bring the Word out... to share with the world 30:00 this beautiful three angels' messages. 30:03 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... amen. 30:04 The Lesson Quarterly goes on to talk about 30:06 how the world then is going to be looking for 30:09 some kind of leader, right? 30:11 Revelation's prophecy identified the Papacy as the one 30:14 who under the auspices of a religious political union 30:16 will be the power believed to fulfill this role... 30:19 someone that they can trust in... 30:21 someone that they can look to. 30:22 Revelation chapter 17 beginning with verse 12, 30:25 let's look there in Revelation 17 30:27 beginning with verse 12. 30:28 Verse 12, "And the ten horns which thou sawest 30:31 are ten kings, 30:33 which have received no kingdom as yet; 30:35 but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. " 30:38 These have one mind, 30:39 they shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 30:42 They shall make war with the Lamb, 30:43 and the Lamb shall overcome them: 30:45 for he is Lord of Lords, 30:47 and King of kings; 30:48 and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, 30:51 and faithful. " 30:52 And I really appreciate what you shared in an earlier Program, 30:55 Shelley, where we talked about, 30:56 "we're not just called... we're not just chosen... 30:58 we're also to be faithful. " 31:00 So, what we see here is an amazing picture 31:02 really of the entire world... the kings of the world... 31:05 everyone coming together with this beast 31:06 that is destined to perdition, 31:08 verse 8 and 11 of the same chapter, 31:10 destined to perdition... this beast... 31:13 this earthly power and a religious guy 31:15 just like Judas was 31:16 that unites the entire world 31:17 or we should say, the entire world unites around him 31:20 and yet, the Lamb which is symbolic of Christ 31:24 of Calvary... of the cross 31:26 28 times singular in the book of Revelation, 31:29 29 times with a plural... 31:31 focusing on Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice for us 31:34 because that's the center of the three angels' messages. 31:37 Christ on the cross is the everlasting gospel 31:40 united against Him and we know the reasons why... 31:43 I... I... I know that we're still going to cover some of those 31:45 reasons why it is that there's a conflict between Jesus 31:48 who is the essence of true religion 31:51 and this... this counterfeit religion 31:53 that the whole world unites around. 31:55 But the Quarterly goes on to share 31:58 and I really appreciate this. 31:59 Let's just read here what it says... 32:00 it says, "There are three significant points 32:02 John makes in this passage. 32:03 First, the political powers that have 'one mind' 32:06 and 'give their power and authority' to the Papacy. " 32:09 I'm adding that phrase in there 32:11 that... that interpretation there, 32:13 excuse me, 32:15 The... "First, the political powers have 'one mind' 32:17 and 'give their power and authority' to the Papacy. '" 32:18 Number two: "This conglomerate of error 32:21 makes war against Jesus the Lamb. " 32:23 Number three: "In earth's last war, 32:26 Christ and His followers are triumphant 32:29 and the Papacy does not win; Jesus does. " 32:31 Panel: Hmmm... sure. 32:33 Rafferty: So, have you ever wondered... 32:34 the Quarterly goes on to say, 32:35 "Have you ever wondered what strategy the devil might use 32:37 to unite the nations? 32:38 History often repeats itself. 32:40 We discover valuable lessons 32:42 from the collapse of the Roman Empire. 32:44 When the Germanic tribes... Germanic invasions 32:48 took place from the north, 32:49 and ravished Western Europe, 32:51 the Roman Emperor Constantine turned to religion. 32:54 The authority of the church, 32:55 combined with the power of the state, 32:57 became the very instrument Constantine needed. 32:59 The continual strengthening of the sanctity of Sunday 33:03 in the fourth century 33:04 was a... was a calculated political and religious move 33:07 to unite the empire at a time of crisis. 33:10 Constantine wanted his empire united, 33:12 and the Roman Church wanted it 'converted. ' 33:15 The renowned historian Arthur Weigall says: 33:18 states clearly: 33:20 'The church made Sunday a sacred day... 33:23 largely because it was the weekly festival for the sun; 33:25 it was a definite Christian policy 33:27 to take over the pagan festivals 33:29 endeared to the people by tradition 33:31 and give them Christian significance. '" 33:33 The Paganism in our Christianity, New York 1928, page 145. 33:37 "So, at the time of a great crisis, 33:39 when all the world is scared, 33:41 hurting, fearful, people will be desperate 33:44 for someone to bring some stability and protection. " 33:47 Are you listening, Friends? 33:48 Because this is where we are right now in our world. 33:51 We are in this crisis... 33:54 we are desperate for someone to bring stability... 33:56 for someone to bring protection... 33:58 we're hurting... we're fearful, right? 33:59 "This is how tyranny has arisen in the past... " 34:02 history will be repeated... 34:03 those who don't remember that 34:05 are doomed to repeat it. 34:07 "and there's no reason not to think 34:08 that it could not happen again. 34:10 According to the prophecy, 34:11 something will bring about these final events. " 34:14 That's where we're headed right now 34:16 and if you don't think it's possible 34:18 as we formulate an understanding 34:21 from Bible prophecy of what the Mark of the Beast actually is, 34:24 you want to think about an experience that I had 34:27 when I went to a Muslim country... 34:29 the country of Pakistan years ago. 34:30 It was an Islamic State... 34:32 that was... that meant it was illegal 34:34 for a Muslim to become a Christian. 34:35 If a Muslim became a Christian in Pakistan, 34:37 they lost... they were... they were to be killed 34:40 either by parents... by relatives... 34:42 by whoever is close to them... 34:43 by whoever. 34:45 In this country, 34:46 I remember waking up on Friday and thinking, 34:47 "This is the day of worship, 34:49 everyone's going to be going to the Mosque... 34:50 everyone is going to be praying. " 34:51 But it was business as usual, 34:53 there were cars driving... there were businesses open, 34:54 everything was... I was amazed by this. 34:56 And people told me, "Oh, yeah, 34:58 only the very devout go to the mosque on Friday. 35:00 It's only the very devout that observe this 35:03 as the day of worship... the day of prayer. " 35:05 And so, then, I woke up on Sunday. 35:07 When I woke up on Sunday morning in the city of Karachi, 35:08 I opened up my blinds and guess what I saw? 35:11 Absolutely nothing. 35:13 No cars... 35:14 no businesses... 35:16 no people. 35:17 I felt like I was in a western country 35:19 back in the early 20th century 35:20 right, with all the Sunday-closing laws. 35:22 And I asked them what about this... 35:23 I said, "What's going on here, 35:25 how come there's no business open?" 35:27 "Oh, this is a new development, 35:29 we have decided to start closing the business on Sunday 35:32 and be open on Friday because of the economic pressure 35:36 of the rest of the world 35:37 who is open for business on Friday 35:39 and closed on Sunday. 35:40 We were falling behind economically. " 35:42 So, when we think about the Mark of the Beast 35:44 when we think about this Sunday worship... 35:46 when we think about uniting the world together, 35:48 we need to think about some of this history 35:50 and some of the developments that are taking place right now 35:52 in order to understand what the Bible is teaching. 35:56 Lomacang: Thank you so much, James... 35:57 thank you, Shelley... 35:58 thank you Ryan for laying the foundation 36:00 on the topic that's a humbling topic. 36:02 I want to speak briefly 36:03 to those of you that are watching this Program 36:05 and listening. 36:06 You may not even be a Christian at all. 36:08 You might be saying to yourself, "Well, I just found 3ABN, 36:11 let me see what they have to talk about 36:13 and you may have stumbled in 36:15 or been led by God on a day 36:17 where we're dealing with probably one of the most difficult topics 36:20 in the closing drama of earth's history: 36:23 The Mark of the Beast... 36:24 this great System that is being put in place 36:27 to cause us to either receive eternal life 36:30 or to be destroyed eternally. 36:32 So, I want to just encourage you 36:34 not to take this one Program and decide, 36:36 "Wow, that... that Network is just too hard on me... 36:39 I don't even know Christ... " 36:40 and then you may be a part of a denomination 36:42 that worships on Sunday. 36:43 We mentioned Sunday references quite a bit. 36:45 how it's not supported by Scripture 36:47 but what I want you to understand 36:49 is, when we get to the third message of the three angels, 36:51 Revelation 14 verse 9, there's a warning there. 36:54 The warning is being declared by God. 36:56 Why is God declaring the warning? 36:59 Because He knows that the decision you're about to make 37:02 will put you in opposition to Him or in favor with Him 37:06 and many of you are worshipping God 37:07 according to the things that you know 37:09 and are not aware that right now this whole System of Babylon, 37:13 we talked about Babylon... the System of worship 37:15 that's leading people to acknowledge 37:16 one day above another 37:18 with excuses that are not Scripturally supported, 37:20 but now we get down to the thing that 37:22 "all of humanity" wants to know... what is it? 37:25 What is the Mark of the Beast? 37:27 What is his image? 37:28 What is this number? 37:29 What is his name? 37:31 what is this about being in our foreheads or in our hands? 37:33 So, let's go ahead and start by looking at a couple of things 37:35 because we know Revelation 14 verses 9 and 10... 37:38 let me read that very carefully for you, 37:40 Revelation 14 verses 9 and 10, 37:43 the Bible says, 37:44 "Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 37:47 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, 37:50 and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 37:52 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 37:56 which is poured out full strength 37:58 into the cup of His indignation. 38:00 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 38:04 in the presence of the holy angels 38:06 and in the presence of the Lamb... " 38:08 a scourge that anybody would want to avoid. 38:11 Panel: Hmmm... 38:12 Lomacang: And so now, 38:13 the number has come up quite a few times. 38:15 We read in Revelation chapter 13 38:16 where the number... he clearly defines as... 38:20 it's a number of a man, verse 18, 38:22 "Here is wisdom... " Revelation 13, 38:24 "Let him who has understanding 38:26 calculate the number of the beast, 38:28 for it is a number of a man. 38:30 His number is 666." 38:31 But some of you may not know, 38:33 maybe a large majority may not know that number 666 38:36 appears in another place in Scripture 38:38 and so, let's go to 1st Kings chapter 10 38:41 and let's see this in 1st Kings chapter 10 and verse 14, 38:43 and this is brought out 38:45 in the lives of one of the men that we highly admire... 38:49 the man Solomon. 38:51 Now, Solomon, praise the Lord, 38:53 he woke up one day and said, "700 wives and 300 concubines... 38:57 this is not God's plan. 38:58 Let me get back to the way God wants it to be. " 39:00 But in his rise to fame... in his rise to popularity... 39:05 in his rise to political and... and materialistic strength, 39:09 there was a transition in Solomon's life. 39:11 Let's look at 1st Kings chapter 10 verse 14, 39:14 "The weight of the gold... " 39:16 speaking about Solomon's great wealth... 39:17 "that came to Solomon yearly... " 39:20 this came every year... 39:21 "was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold. " 39:24 Panel: Hmmm... 39:26 Lomacang: Now notice, this came yearly... 39:27 this was a cadence that continued... 39:29 so, Solomon was yearly recognized 39:31 666... 666... over and over and over 39:34 and over again... 39:36 building up his wealth and his material possessions. 39:38 But you'll find that why is this so significant 39:41 to mention in Scripture? 39:42 Because this goes against the very injunctions 39:44 put out in Deuteronomy 17 verses 16 and 17 to 20, 39:48 that the leaders of God were not to be identified 39:51 and create an allegiance to materialistic wealth. 39:54 Their allegiance was to be in serving God 39:57 and leading His people 39:59 and so, we find that the very same cadence today... 40:01 many religious leaders are succumbed to the... 40:04 to the seduction of wealth and that's their focal point. 40:08 Their god is their belly. 40:10 But what has happened 40:11 as a result of their decisions that they make, 40:14 then they are put into one category... 40:17 a category of allegiance to God 40:19 or allegiance to the beast and his power... 40:22 his mark... his name and his image. 40:23 That's why we go to Revelation chapter 13 now 40:25 and we read some very significant words. 40:28 I'll read Revelation chapter 13 and... 40:30 where it talks about... "He causes... " 40:33 verse... verse 16, 40:34 all right, he says, "He causes all, both small and great, 40:38 rich and poor, free and bond, 40:40 to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 40:42 and that no one may buy or sell 40:45 except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, 40:48 or the number of his name. " 40:49 And then the calculation comes in 40:51 to make it very, very clear that the number 666... 40:54 now, why six? 40:55 When you look at the creation week, 40:57 man was created on the sixth day. 41:00 That's the day of man 41:02 and when you read this in the Greek, 41:03 not only does it say it's a number of a man, 41:06 but it also says, "It's a number of humanity. " 41:08 And then, Romans 3 verse 23, 41:11 the Bible says, "For all have sinned 41:12 and fallen short of the glory of God. " 41:14 Here's my point in putting it together. 41:16 If you stop at six, 41:17 you fall short of God's completed creation. 41:20 If you stop at six, you focus on man and not God 41:24 and so, the beast system is 41:25 to get you to focus on man not God. 41:28 That's why he's found ways to try to substitute, 41:30 "Let's not look at that seven... " 41:32 that's why in the Roman Catholic Church today, they say, 41:34 "Hey God created light on the first day 41:37 and Jesus rose on the first day... 41:39 the day of light and the day of resurrection, 41:41 so, let's ignore the seventh... " 41:42 a man is saying this... the sixth... 41:45 "Let's ignore what God blessed on the seventh... 41:47 focus on the first day... the first day. " 41:49 So, that's why today in the Christian world, 41:52 most people honor the first day of the week. 41:54 It's not an injunction of Scripture, 41:56 it's not a word of the Bible that gives you that authority, 41:58 it's the word of man... six... that system of six. 42:00 So, Satan has put into place a system that says, 42:04 "Don't let your mind be governed by God's Word, 42:07 let your mind be governed by man's word. " 42:09 You see Friends, 42:11 the decision to receive the Mark of the Beast 42:12 or the Seal of God 42:13 is what happens in our minds. 42:15 Let us go to Romans chapter 12 and verse 2, 42:17 Jill, would you read that for us? 42:18 Romans 12 and verse 2, 42:19 "And do not be conformed to this world, 42:21 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. " 42:24 You notice Friends, the mind is the battleground. 42:27 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 42:28 Lomacang: The Word of God is sowed in our minds. 42:30 David said, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart 42:32 that I might not sin against thee. " 42:33 Jesus says, that... "Sanctify them by Thy truth, 42:36 Thy word is truth. " 42:38 But where is that truth stored? 42:39 Look at Philippians chapter 2 and verse 5. 42:41 Who has Philippians 2 verse 5? 42:42 Shelley read that for us. 42:43 Philippians 2:5, "Let his mind be in you 42:47 which was also in Christ Jesus. " 42:49 So, Satan wants to affect your mind. 42:51 The way you think determines your worship. 42:54 The way that you believe determines your worship. 42:57 Where do you believe? 42:58 You believe here but you act it out with your hands. 43:00 That's why the mark is in the forehead or in the hands. 43:03 The condition of the mind 43:05 activates the motion of the hand... 43:07 the motion of the life. 43:09 "I'm going to worship this way... " 43:10 so, by my feet... I go to church on Sunday 43:12 because my mind believes that that's what I should do. 43:15 But when you follow God's Word and the mind of Christ is there, 43:19 your feet move differently. 43:21 I'm going to move in the cadence of God... 43:24 I accept the Sabbath... that's the difference. 43:26 But now a lot of us think that this decision is decided by Rome. 43:30 Rome cannot make a decision as to what I should do, 43:33 I make a decision. 43:34 Panel: That's right... yes. 43:36 Lomacang: All of the power of the Antichrist System 43:37 doesn't force me to do anything. 43:38 Panel: That's right. 43:40 Lomacang: But Joshua made a very powerful statement. 43:41 In the writings of Joshua 24:15, 43:43 he says, "Choose you this day whom you will serve. " 43:47 Notice there, the choice is made. 43:49 Where is the choice made? 43:51 In our minds... 43:52 and so, when it calms down, 43:54 we find this cadence in Scripture throughout. 43:56 When Israel... in their mind in worship... rejected God, 43:59 the Bible says in 1st Kings chapter 9 and verse 7, 44:02 "I will cut off Israel... " 44:04 Israel's refusal to acknowledge God in their minds 44:07 and in their lives, 44:08 led to God cutting them off. 44:10 We find the whole nation of Israel... 44:12 the Lord says, "I come three years looking for food, 44:15 I found none, cut it down. " 44:16 But then the gardener says, 44:18 "Wait one year also... " 44:20 and so, for the last three and a half years 44:22 of the ministry of Christ, 44:23 after He ascended, He said to the disciples, 44:25 "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. " 44:27 Notice, it's the lost sheep... "they're lost right now. 44:30 I don't want to cut them off, 44:32 they got three-and-a-half more years. " 44:33 At the end of the three-and-a-half years, 44:35 what happened? 44:36 They got cut off. 44:38 "Behold your house is left to you desolate... " 44:39 were the words of Christ in His day. 44:40 Then you also find later on 44:42 and this cadence is continued. 44:44 So, in the very end, we're going to find the very same cadence 44:47 but how is it going to be decided? 44:49 God is in control of the final... 44:51 we make the decision which God does not manipulate 44:54 and then God decides based on our decision, 44:56 He puts into play the process of... 44:59 "Okay, if this is what they want, 45:01 I will send them strong delusion that they will believe a lie. " 45:04 But they made the decision in their mind 45:06 to reject the truth first 45:07 and the strong delusion causes... 45:09 "If this is what you want, 45:10 this is what you're going to get. 45:12 If you don't want manna, I'm going to send you quail. " 45:13 God always decides based on our decision 45:16 what to do next. 45:17 And so we find, Revelation 17 verse 13, 45:19 you have that for us James? 45:21 Rafferty: Revelation 17 verse 13, 45:22 "These have one mind, 45:23 and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. " 45:25 Lomacang: That's right and then in Revelation 17:17, 45:28 help me with that one. 45:29 Rafferty: "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, 45:31 to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, 45:34 until the words of God shall be fulfilled. " 45:36 Lomacang: So, here's the pinnacle issue. 45:37 The Sabbath versus Sunday, 45:39 is a choice you make in your mind. 45:40 You either follow what God established in Genesis... 45:43 the last day of the week. 45:45 He blessed that. 45:46 He said, "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. " 45:48 Man says, "Forget and honor Sunday. " 45:50 The pinnacle issue is going to be Sabbath worship. 45:53 You make that decision in your mind 45:55 and so, when the Mark of the Beast is imposed, 45:57 when men receive the Mark of the Beast 45:59 or the Seal of God, 46:01 it's because of the choice that they make. 46:03 Today Friends, let this mind of Christ be your mind 46:07 and you will not receive the Mark of the Beast 46:10 but you will receive the Seal of God. 46:12 Panel: Amen. 46:14 Jill: And then you so much Pastor John and each one of you, 46:16 what an incredible study! 46:17 What insights into the Word of God 46:19 and into the Mark of the Beast. 46:21 I'm Jill Morikone. 46:22 On Thursday we look at the Sabbath test 46:26 and we're looking specifically at the Seal of God. 46:29 So, what is the Seal of God? 46:31 A seal is used to guarantee security or indicate ownership. 46:36 2nd Timothy 2 verse 19, 46:38 "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, 46:41 having this seal: 46:43 'The Lord knows those who are His. '" 46:47 That's ownership... we belong to God. 46:49 Biblical seals have three components. 46:52 Shelley talked about this on a previous lesson. 46:54 The name of the Sealer... the person giving the seal, 46:58 their title and their territory. 47:02 In the heart of the Ten Commandments, 47:04 in the fourth commandment, 47:06 God placed His seal. 47:08 You find that in Exodus 20 verses 8 through 11. 47:11 What is His name? 47:13 The Lord your God. 47:14 What is His title? 47:16 Creator. 47:17 What is His territory? 47:20 The heavens and the earth... 47:21 the sea and all that is in them. 47:24 The Seal of God is found in the fourth commandment. 47:27 We cannot receive the Seal of God 47:31 without keeping God's seventh-day Sabbath holy. 47:35 Panel: True. 47:36 Jill: But I want to expand it a little more than that 47:38 because oftentimes we say, 47:40 "Well the Seal of God is Sabbath versus Sunday. " 47:42 Mark of the Beast... Seal of God 47:43 and it is most definitely. 47:45 But the Sabbath is also a sign that God sanctifies us. 47:50 Ezekiel 20 verse 12, 47:53 "Moreover I gave them My Sabbaths, 47:54 to be a sign between them and Me, 47:56 that they may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. " 48:00 The Seal is not just observance of the right day. 48:04 It is an indication of the sanctification process 48:08 that has happened in the life of the believer. 48:12 The difference, then, is between this outward observance 48:16 of the Sabbath 48:17 and inward sanctification. 48:20 You know, we have people today 48:21 who could say, "Well, I worship on Sabbath... " 48:23 but their lives aren't transformed. 48:24 They're not being changed into the image of Jesus. 48:28 Those who receive the Seal of God in their foreheads 48:31 will keep the commandments of God 48:33 including the fourth commandment. 48:35 Will have the faith of Jesus... 48:36 will be covered with the white robe of Christ's righteousness... 48:40 will experience the sanctifying process 48:44 of the God of the Sabbath. 48:46 Here's a quote... I have it in my phone, 48:47 that's why I'm holding my phone up, 48:49 this is from Ellen White's writings, 48:51 this is the Seven Bible Commentary page 980, 48:54 "It is the sanctification of the Spirit 48:57 that signalizes the difference 48:59 between those who have the Seal of God 49:02 and those who keep a spurious rest day. " 49:06 It is the sanctification of the Spirit. 49:09 Let's do a quick comparison 49:11 and then we have seven takeaways at the end 49:13 but let's do a quick comparison between Ezekiel chapters 8 and 9 49:17 and what we find with the sealed ones in the book of Revelation. 49:21 In the book of Ezekiel chapter 8, 49:24 we see an investigative judgment 49:28 going on with the people of Judah. 49:31 Now, a little history... 49:32 we know that Ezekiel is prophesying 49:33 during the time of judgment on the kingdom of Judah 49:36 in Jerusalem. 49:37 In fact, twice already, 49:39 Nebuchadnezzar has come and decimated the people 49:41 of Jerusalem 49:43 and yet, the people are still engaging in the very practices 49:47 that called forth God's judgment in the first place. 49:50 They're not changing. 49:51 The Spirit takes Ezekiel in vision 49:54 700 miles across the Arabian desert 49:57 to Jerusalem's temple courtyard. 49:59 God is investigating His people. 50:02 He brings... they call it a rib pronounced reev... 50:05 a covenant lawsuit. 50:07 He's bringing a legal case against His people 50:10 and at the end of the investigation, 50:11 He declares that their probation is over 50:14 and judgment descends. 50:16 In Ezekiel chapter 8, 50:18 you see this four-series of scenes. 50:21 Each one is more abominable than the last one. 50:24 They're all involved... false and counterfeit worship. 50:28 We see the false idol worship that provokes God to jealousy. 50:32 We see animal worship 50:34 which is part of the spiritualistic cult... 50:36 mixing practices from Egypt. 50:38 We see the women weeping for Tammuz 50:41 the counterfeit of the coming Messiah. 50:44 We see the 25 men worshipping the sun in the very place 50:48 where they were supposed to come and seek forgiveness 50:51 from the Lord. 50:53 In Revelation, false worship is again this issue 50:56 in the final conflict. 50:58 We see the false day of worship being elevated 51:03 which is Sunday. 51:04 Now, in Ezekiel, we see that probation is closed 51:07 on the house of Judah. 51:08 The professed people of God are separated into two groups... 51:11 those who receive the mark on their forehead... 51:14 we'll talk about that in just one moment 51:15 and those who embrace this counterfeit worship 51:18 and those people are killed. 51:20 We see that God leaves the Most Holy Place 51:22 and announces this executive face of the judgment. 51:25 Now, in this time in Ezekiel, 51:26 there was chance for restoration and repentance 51:30 because after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, 51:33 God called His people back. 51:36 But in Revelation, there is no second chance 51:40 when we're at the very end of time 51:43 and there's the issue between the Seal of God 51:45 and the Mark of the Beast. 51:46 There's not a second chance. 51:48 There's not 70 years or so many years 51:49 and we can have a second chance. 51:51 You know, the Investigative Judgment 51:53 is just not a time of cleansing 51:55 of the heavenly sanctuary, 51:57 it's a time of cleansing of God's people on this earth 52:01 making us ready for the soon return of Jesus. 52:05 In Ezekiel 9, we see this mark placed on their forehead. 52:09 Ezekiel 9 verse 4, 52:11 "The Lord said to him, 52:13 'Go through the midst of the city, 52:14 through the midst of Jerusalem, 52:15 put a mark on the foreheads of the men 52:19 who... '" what? 52:20 "sigh and cry over the abominations 52:23 done within it. " 52:24 This mark in Hebrew "Tav" 52:26 is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 52:28 It was shaped like a cross in Ezekiel's day 52:31 and it's a symbol of the last ones... 52:33 the remaining ones... the remnant 52:35 but those who receive this mark, 52:38 they sighed and cried over the sins of the people. 52:41 I want to read you another quote from Ellen White, 52:45 this one is from Testimonies volume 5 page 211. 52:48 "The class who do not feel grieved 52:51 over their own spiritual declension 52:55 or mourn for the sins of others, 52:58 will be left without the Seal of God. " 53:01 Panel: Whew! Wow! 53:02 In Revelation, we see 53:04 at the end of the sixth seal, 53:05 remember, just before the second coming of Christ, 53:07 they're crying for the mountains and rocks to fall on them 53:10 and they're saying, "Who shall be able to stand?" 53:12 In Revelation 7, we see that those who are sealed by God 53:17 on their foreheads are able to stand. 53:19 In Revelation 14, we find that these same people, 53:22 are without fault before the throne of God, 53:27 that they have the name of God... 53:29 the character of God written in their foreheads. 53:34 So, here's my seven takeaways very quickly from the Sealing. 53:39 Takeaway Number 1: 53:40 The seventh-day Sabbath 53:42 is a test for God's end-time people. 53:46 Those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath at the end 53:50 will be sealed. 53:51 Number 2: The Seal is a sign of sanctification. 53:55 Number 3: The Seal is given to the last ones 53:59 or the remaining ones... it's given to the remnant. 54:03 Number 4: The Seal is placed on the foreheads 54:07 of those who represent Christ in character. 54:12 Panel: That's right. 54:13 Jill: Number 5: 54:15 The Seal is given to those who confess their own sins 54:18 or the sins of others... 54:21 those who sigh and cry for the abominations 54:26 that are done in the land. 54:28 Number 6: The Seal is a mark of protection 54:31 against the judgments that will be falling on the wicked. 54:36 Just like the blood on the doorposts 54:38 at the time of Exodus, 54:40 was applied to the doorposts to protect them 54:44 when the destroying angel passed by. 54:47 Finally, Number 7: 54:49 The Seal is a sign that you and I are filled 54:52 with the Holy Spirit. 54:53 I think of Ephesians 1 verse 13 54:57 that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. 55:03 So, to me this topic is life and death. 55:07 This topic is life-changing 55:09 will we receive the Mark of the Beast 55:12 or will we make a choice to receive the Seal of God? 55:17 And it's not just Sabbath versus Sunday, 55:21 it is most certainly Sabbath versus Sunday. 55:24 But there is more encompassed than simply, 55:27 "Oh yeah, I go to church on Sabbath, 55:29 I'm good... I don't have anything else to worry about. " 55:31 Where is your character? 55:33 Where is your heart? 55:36 Who has your allegiance? 55:38 Where does your mind go? 55:40 Where do your thoughts go? 55:42 Who has that? 55:44 And when you sigh and cry for the abominations done, 55:48 when you love Jesus more than anything, 55:51 when you seek to honor Him 55:53 and let Him work out His character in your life 55:57 and in your heart, 55:58 worship on His holy day... 56:00 you will receive the Seal of God in the last days. 56:03 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 56:05 Ryan: Wow! powerful guys, thank you so much. 56:06 It's been such a blessing 56:08 to be able to just revisit this powerful truth 56:10 and we certainly need it for our time. 56:12 Let's go ahead and get some final thoughts from the Panel. 56:14 Shelley: A quick final thought... 56:15 there will be people in heaven 56:17 who will be celebrating their first Sabbath there. 56:21 The issue that we're talking about is the end of time. 56:26 There are people who are ignorant 56:27 but remember what 2nd Thessalonians... 56:30 what Paul said... that we need to have a love of the truth 56:35 if we don't want to perish. 56:37 Study your Word. 56:39 Rafferty: Amen, God is giving us these prophecies 56:42 not to scare us but to prepare us. 56:43 God wants us to be ready for what's coming. 56:45 He wants to show us what's around the corner 56:47 so that we can keep our eyes on Jesus 56:49 and He can safely take us through the Mark of the Beast 56:51 and land us in... into the new heaven and the new earth. 56:53 Lomacang: Friends, the issue is simple. 56:55 Your allegiance... whom will you serve? 56:58 You decide to serve God through His Word... 57:00 His written Word 57:02 or you decide to follow man and his word. 57:04 That's going to be the deciding issue... 57:06 whether you receive the Seal of God 57:07 or the Mark of the Beast. 57:09 Your choice of allegiance. 57:11 Jill: Amen, we referenced it many times, Joshua 24:15, 57:15 just make a choice... 57:16 choose you this day whom you will serve. 57:18 Ryan: Amen, thank you guys so much 57:20 for such a powerful lesson, 57:22 it's a great reminder that we need to know Jesus Christ 57:25 as Lord and Savior. 57:26 Exactly what He was praying there in... 57:28 in the Garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross, 57:30 Jesus said in John 17 and verse 3, 57:33 "And this is eternal life, 57:34 that they may know You, the only true God, 57:37 and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. " 57:39 Do you know Jesus... 57:40 that's really what it comes down to... 57:42 either you know Him... 57:43 or you don't know Him at the end of time. 57:44 My Friends, you're not going to want to miss next week 57:46 as we're going to be taking on 57:47 the final lesson of this Quarter, 57:49 which is Lesson Number 13 entitled: 57:51 Ablaze with God's glory... 57:53 it's going to be exciting 57:55 and you're not going to want to miss it. 57:56 We'll see you back right here next week. |
Revised 2023-09-14