GOD’S SEAL OR THE BEAST’S MARK?
June 9th – 15th, 2018
MEMORY TEXT: “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Revelation 15:3
SABBATH AFTERNOON: The ears of the Prophet of Patmos “caught the shout of the redeemed” singing “the song of Moses and the Lamb” in vision (Rev. 15:2). The ransomed are those who did not worship the beast or had his mark. Heresies about the mark of the beast are many. The study tries to annul this confusing ideas and how to avoid the mark of the beast— “by receiving the seal of God”.
SUNDAY: The Sabbath and circumcision stood as a sign that identified God’s people in the Old Testament (Gen. 17:9-11). Paul argues that physical circumcision is done away with baptism in the New Testament. It began with Abraham and meant renewal of the heart (Lev. 12:3; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28, 29; 6:3, 4; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:6; 6:15). The Sabbath began with creation and Paul posit that it is essential in identifying God as the Creator and challenging Satans attempt at pushing evolution (Exod. 31:13, 17; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Mark 2:27; Heb. 4:9).
MONDAY: All souls will take sides through their behavior, choices and action between God and Satan. There are those who are stamped with God’s seal and those who are stamped with the beast’s mark (Rev. 13:17; 14:9, 10; 16:2). This mark stands for false worship (worship prescribe by man but not aligned to God’s clear requirements) (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12-14). While all who have God’s seal (Rev. 14:12; Exod. 20:11) rejoice in heaven, those who had the beast’s mark will receive God’s wrath.
TUESDAY: The Sabbath day is the seal of God (Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:19; Rev. 7:1-4; 14:1). It signifies ownership and protection from God. A seal or mark on the forehead means a definite choice to obey God or Satan. But the mark on the hand means siding with the beast to escape its persecution or to preserve worldy position or possession (Rev. 13:17, 15)
WEDNESDAY: The mark of the beast points to a false Sabbath—Sunday worship a put forward by man but not supported biblically. “Satan is now using every distraction or deviation in this sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from obeying His full commandments including the seventh-day Sabbath which points to God as the Creator and not to evolution in the way the devil wants to lead the world (Dan. 7; Rev. 13; 14:9, 12; Exod. 20:11). But no one has the mark of the beast yet (Rev. 13:15). It’ll be given at the final test when it becomes a life-or-death, obedience or defiance of God’s laws, worship of God or allegiance to worship influenced by the devil and his agents.
THURSDAY: A mark is placed upon the righteous (Rev. 14:12). The Sabbath instituted in Eden was kept by our first parents, Jesus, and the apostles. It’s found at the heart of God’s law and identifies God by name, His power, and authority (Exod. 20:8-11; Heb. 4:9, 10). Jesus who created the world (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1, 2) rested even in the tomb (John 19:30). He blessed the Sabbath at Creation and at the Cross.
PREPARATION DAY: The seal of God is not a visible mark seen by human eyes. Instead, it is settling into and complete acceptance of God’s Truth, both intellectually and spiritually. Those who possess God’s seal are saved by God in the end just as a mark placed over the doors of the Hebrew homes saved their firstborns. Obeying the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to God. At the end, we will either have God’s seal of obedience ot the beast’s (devil’s) mark of disobience to God.
CREDITS/EDITS
Source: Brother Steve Lawrence (SDA, Bermuda)
Format: Edited for presentation and to reflect KJV
