FACTS OF THE FUTURE |
THE FUTURE WITHOUT ILLUSIONS
Many of these events are clearly prophesied in the Bible |
In recent years the world witnessed one disaster after another. Droughts, floods,
devastating cyclones and earthquakes have followed each other in steady succession.
Thousands lost their lives by dreadful accidents on land, sea and in the air; while
millions more are starving to death, nations like Brazil and Mexico are bankrupt, unable
to repay their debts. Wars, national uprisings, population explosion and the continual
destruction of nature causes mankind to look fearfully into the future. Many of
these events are clearly prophesied in the Bible 
(Matt 24:4-31;
Luke 21:25-28; Rev 6:12-17;16;17;18). God always has warned the world of coming judgments,
which were the results of their ungodliness (Isa 24:5-20; 46:9-10; Am 3:7; Rev 1:1).
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
For example, God told Noah of the coming flood, Abraham and Lot of the future
destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Moses of the plagues of Egypt. These
events were recorded for us today as a warning to help us understand clearly that all
prophecies recorded in the Bible have met their fulfillment and will come to pass in the
future. (1Cor 10:6-12; 2Pet 2:5-9; Heb 4:11). Therefore, we find God's urgent warning
message to the last generation, represented by
THE MESSAGE OF THE THREE ANGELS
which we find in Revelation, chapter 14, written by John the Revelator. This is the last call which God is making to all people before the second coming of Jesus Christ as King and Judge. It contains the most serious warning of coming judgments to be found in scripture:
How can we avoid worshipping the Beast or receiving its Mark if we don't know who or what the Beast and its Image is? |
This warning is of vital importance to every person! But how can we avoid worshipping
the Beast or receiving its Mark if we don't know who or what the Beast and its Image is?
The lack of knowledge in this area has fatal consequences. "My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge." (Hos 4:6, compare Isa 29: 13-14).
However, God has promised understanding to the upright (Prov 2:1-7; Dan 12:4,10; Matt7:
7-8).
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but
that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: for why
will ye die, O house of Israel?" Eze 33:11 (compare 2Pet 3:10-11; Mal 3:18; 4:1,2).
What is the meaning of that Beast with that unique Mark?
Before we discuss the Beast itself we must understand the historical background
preceding the Beast. The best place to begin is in the book of Daniel, which deals greatly
with prophecy, from the 6th century B.C. down to the end of time.
The
interpretation of the symbols used in Bible prophecy has not been left to human guesswork.
Prophecy is history written in advance. The Bible itself gives us the key of understanding
(2Pet 1:20).
A beast in prophecy symbolizes a king or a kingdom. This is clearly
taught in Dan 7:17,23: "These great beasts are four kings ....
The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth..."
In Dan 7:3 is written: "And four great beasts came up from the
sea...".
"Sea" or "Water" represents "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues." Rev
17:15 (compare Isa 8:7).
In chapter 7 of Daniel the prophet sees the coming world empires represented as beasts.
A parallel description we find in Dan 2:27-45 where individual parts of a statue are
symbolizing, in an accurate manner, the future course mankind will take.
THE LION
"The first was like a lion..." Dan 7:4 (compare Dan
2:37,38). This refers to the Babylonian world empire (608-538 BC),
which reigned supreme during Daniel's time. In the Pergamon Museum of Berlin you can still
admire the winged lion as a historical witness of that period of time.
THE BEAR
"And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it
raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth
of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh." Dan 7:5. This
beast has the same meaning as the breast and arms of silver in Dan 2:32,39. It represents
the power of the two empires of Media and Persia, who replaced the
Babylonian empire (538-331 BC). It was a dual monarchy with the Medes
ruling first, then later the Persians. The two arms and the bear raising itself up on one
side emphasizes this aspect of prophecy. The one part would be stronger than the other.
The three ribs represented the nations of Babylon, Lydia and Egypt that were conquered by
Medo-Persia.
THE LEOPARD
"After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had
upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was
given to it." Dan 7:6. This beast also finds its counterpart in Dan 2:32,39.
It was the Grecian empire (331-168 BC), Alexander the
Great which overthrew the Persians, and when he died his kingdom was divided into four
parts, as symbolized by the four heads. (Macedonia, Thrace, Syria and Egypt).
THE
FOURTH BEAST
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth
beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it
devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was
diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." Dan
7:7. Again we find this beast in Dan 2:33,40. The fourth empire that followed the Grecian
empire was the Roman empire (168 BC-476 AD). It was so
very different from all the other beasts that Daniel saw in vision that he was unable to
describe it. The ten horns in Dan 7:24 represent "ten kings
that shall arise out of this kingdom". It is a historical fact that the Roman
empire fell in 476 AD, and in its place 10 new kingdoms came up which are the ten germanic
tribes that make up today's European states. Parallel to Dan 7:7 we find that in Dan
2:41,42 these were symbolized by the ten toes. These were the following tribes: 1.
Alemanni (Germany), 2. Franks (France), 3. Anglo-Saxons (Great Britain), 4. Burgundians
(Switzerland), 5. Visigoths (Spain), 6. Suevi (Portugal), 7. Lombards (Italy), 8. Heruli, 9. Vandals, 10. Ostrogoths.
THE LITTLE HORN
"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among
them another little horn, before whom there were three of the
first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of
man, and a mouth speaking great things." Dan 7:8.
The Various Identification Marks of the Little Horn:
1. It came up "among" the 10 horns (kingdoms), and
three of the original 10 horns were uprooted in its rise to power.
2. In Dan 7:24 it is reported: The little horn shall rise after
the 10 horns.
There is only ONE power in all history that fits this description. In Rome itself in the
very center of the fractured empire there arose after 476 A.D. the
Papacy, the one-man government of the Catholic Church. In its rise to power three of the
Gothic tribes, (the Heruli, the Vandals
and the Ostrogoths), "were plucked
up". By the decree of the east Roman emperor Justinian (Codex Justinianus) in 533
A.D. the Roman bishop was installed as the head of all Christian churches. When
the last of the three Arian tribes (the Ostrogoths) resisted this decree in 538
A.D. they were conquered and chased out of Rome by the imperial general
Belisarius. This was also the time that papal Rome fully established its political power for
a prophesied period. (See later explanation).
3.
In Dan 7: 25 it says that he "will wear out the saints of the
most High", which is referring to the great persecution of the Christians. No
reader of history will deny that this statement, too, found its fulfillment in the papacy.
The dreadful persecutions of the Dark Ages (the stake, the burning of heretics, the
crusades) are well known and have indeed blackened the pages of history.
The papal system changed the law of God, the 10 commandments |
4. Further, it states: "he will think to
change times and laws...." The papal system actually changed the law
of God, the 10 commandments: It removed the second commandment from the
catechism, which prohibits the worship of images. It also changed the fourth commandment,
the keeping of the Sabbath (the only commandment dealing with time),
by moving God's day of rest from the seventh day to the first day of the week. (compare
2Thess 2:3-4; Ps 94:20).He changed the "time" of
worship. A false day of worship was set up. Instead 
of
the original, unchangeable Sabbath of the 7th day (see Ex 20:8-11;
31:13,16,17; Eze 20:12; Isa 56:2,3,6,7;Ps 89:35;Heb 4:1-11; Jas 2:10), which was kept by
Christ and the apostles (Luke 4:16; Matt 24:20; Acts 13:42; Heb 4:10-11), the first
day of the week (the pagan "day of the sun") was set up, which God
never commanded to be kept holy. He had warned his people not to accept this day of
worship (Rev 14:9-11;16:2;19:20; see Eze 8:16-18).
Instead of the original, unchangeable Sabbath of the 7th day, the first day of the week was set up |
5. "And there was given unto him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies... And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Rev
13:5-6 (compare Dan 7:8,25; 11:36; 2Thes 2:3-4). How does the Bible define blasphemy?
During a plot against Jesus he was accused of blasphemy "...because
that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" John 10:33.
Another type of blasphemy we find in Luke 5:21: "Who is this
which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
Both forms of the mentioned blasphemies fit the papacy. ("On this earth we are
holding the place of Almighty God" Encyc. Pope Leo XIII, 6-20-1894). Frequently the
pope is called "Holy Father", even though Jesus forbade this
form of address towards any man (Matt 23:9), because it is reserved exclusively for the
Father in Heaven (John 17:11).
6. In Dan 7:25; 12:7 and Rev 12:14, even the period of the papal
supremacy is being prophesied as three and a half times in
Rev 11:2, as 42 months in Rev 13:5, and as 1260 days in Rev 11:3 and 12:6 respectively.
The biblical measurement for prophesied periods as 1 day equaling 1
year (Ez 4:6 and Num 14:34) makes it plain that in all these references it is
referring to the same period of time of 1260 actual years. One "time" by their
understanding was meant to mean one year. In those days they calculated in lunar years of
360 days per year. One lunar month consisted of 30 days (see time of flood in Gen 7:11,24;
8:4 - here are 150 days 5 months). Accordingly we find that 3 1/2 times (3 1/2 years)
multiplied by twelve months equals 42 months, and 42 months multiplied by 30 days equals
1260 days, or 1260 actual years in history.We find that this prophesied time period found
its actual fulfillment in the history of the papacy. The final destruction of the East
Gothic Empire around 538 AD, (which was the last power, or
"Horn", that withstood Rome), is generally being understood as the beginning of
the political dominating position of the papacy. When we start counting 1260 years from this period of history we arrive at the year 1798 AD. Exactly during this year Pope Pius VI was made captive
under the leadership of the French general Berthiér. Pope Pius VI died in prison. The
following prediction was fulfilled: "He that leadeth into
captivity shall go into captivity." Rev 13:10 (Concordance N.T.). Never again
to this date had the papacy such clear supremacy and influence. A democratic constitution
was established, and Rome became a republic, and the political power of Rome came to an
end - exactly after 1260 years, as prophecy had foretold it.
In Rev 13:1-10, the history of the papal power is briefly recorded as it arose out of the
pagan Roman empire, as it reigned for 1260 years, and in the end received a deadly wound.
7. In Rev 13:3 it says: "And I saw one of
his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all
the world wondered after the beast." This shows clearly that this
power will exist until the return of Christ. (Compare Dan 7:21-22).
8. During the time of the deadly wound and the regaining of its power,
another beast comes to view: "And I beheld another beast coming
up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."
Rev 13:11-12.
Which power is being described?
| The Symbols: | The Meaning: |
| 1. Arises out of the earth. Rev 13:11 | 1. Arises in some new or sparsely populated land. |
| 2. Arises about the time the sea beast is falling. (1798 AD, Rev 13:1,3,10) | 2. Grows into a nation about the time of Papal overthrow (1763-1800) |
| 3. Has two lamb-like horns (Rev 13:11) | 3. Two Christ-like principles give it strength (civil and religious liberty) |
| 4. Has no crowns on the horns (Rev 13:11) | 4. Not a monarchy - some form of republic |
| 5. Exercises power equal to the first beast (Rev 13:12) | 5. Becomes a formidable, if not supreme, world power. |
Only one power in history meets these five prophetic specifications, namely the United
States of America, which united during the years of 1763-1800.
We see from Rev 13:11-18, that it began with a humble nature, but it will
grow to be a dominating world power at the time of the end. It is foretold that America
will make an "Image to the Beast", that will force
mankind to "worship" the Beast whose wound was
healed. This Image is an exact copy of what the papacy was during its 1260 year rule. This
described worship shows clearly that it is referring to a religious - political power.
In Dan 3:5,10,14,18,28 it is clearly taught that
religious reverence of human images and power symbols are equal to idolatry and are in
contradiction to the second commandment. (Ex 20:4-6).
Sunday worship is a sign of power, a sign of the papal authority, to substitute their own
laws (See below under catholic authority from their own
sources!).
Prophecy reveals that America will force Sunday observance ("Mark of the Beast) by
setting up an "Image".
This Image is nothing else but apostate Protestantism, an ecumenical union of
churches, which will unite with the Government, to enforce religious laws. The
whole world will obey the law of Sunday sacredness. (See the book "The National
Sunday Law".) It is the pride of the papacy to think that it can change the 10
commandments, the law of God. It will be the deciding question of the future, a decision
between life and death (Rev 13:14-15): to obey God or the commandments of man. (Mal 3:18;
4:1; Rev 16:2).
Please note that at this time America will do "great wonders,
so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men..."
(Think of the Atomic bomb in 1945 over Hiroshima, the Air war of 1991 in Iraq, or the
increase of false revivals of the charismatic movements which started in America.) "...and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, (compare Matt 24:24), saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image
to the beast, (the papacy) which had the wound by a sword,
and did live." (Rev 13:13-14)
The papacy claims the change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week was her act and is the "Mark" of her authority in religious things |
The papacy claims the change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week was
her act and is the "Mark" of her authority in religious things (compare
Dan 7:25):
"The Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claim for
sacredness can be defended only on Catholic authority...In Holy Scripture from the
beginning to the end we find not one single text which justifies the transfer of the
weekly public worship service from the last to the first day of the week." (Catholic
Press, Sidney, 8-25-1900).
"We celebrate Sunday instead of Saturday, because the
Catholic Church has transferred the sacredness from Saturday to Sunday at the council of
Laodicea in the year of 364 AD." ("The Converts Catechism of
Catholic Doctrine" from P. Geiermann, the work of Pope Pius X, on 1-25-1910 who
received the apostolic blessing).
"It pleased the church of God to transfer the celebration
of the Sabbath to Sunday." (The published Roman Catechism, page 247 after
the decision of the council of Trent by order of Pope Pius V.)
"The seventh-day Sabbath was kept by Christ and the
apostles and was celebrated by the first Christians and acknowledged as such until it was
abolished by the Laodicean Council. This council first settled the question about the
Lord's day and forbade the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath under the issue of an
Anathema (Curse)." (William Prynne, a famous English Theologian, from his
work "Dissertation on Lord's Day", page 32)
"The Sabbath, the best known day of the law, was changed
into the Lord's day. These and others have not ceased because of instructions received
from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill
it), but because due to the authority of the church they have been changed."
(Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon on 1-18-1562, Mansi XXIII, p 526)
"It was the holy Catholic Church who transferred the rest
day from Saturday to Sunday, the first day the of the week... Which Church does the whole
civilized world obey? The Protestants ...acknowledge great reverence towards the Bible,
and yet by celebrating the Sunday they acknowledge the authority of the Catholic Church.
The Bible says "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy", but the Catholic
Church says: "No, keep the first day of the week holy! - and the entire world obeys
her!" (Pater Enright on 12-15-1889)
"Question: How can you prove that the church has the power
to institute holidays? Answer: By the fact that she has transferred the Sabbath to Sunday,
which the Protestants approve of; an obvious contradiction is when they strictly keep
Sunday and then disregard most of the other holidays, which were instituted by the same
Church." (From "Abridgement of Christian Doctrine" of H.
Tuberville, Donay-Kolleg, 1649, p. 58)
9. In Rev 13:18 we find another sign, the number of the Beast: "Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for
it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
One of the official titles of the pope is: "Vicarius Filii Dei",
which is translated, "Representative of the Son of God".
In reply to questions from readers, the Catholic newspaper "Our Sunday Visitor"
of 4-18-1915 said: "The engraved letters on the popes Mitre
(or better, Tiara) are as follows: "Vicarius
Filii Dei". 
- This designation (which
by itself is blasphemy, as it places itself above the Holy Spirit [John 16:12-15; 14:26;
Rom 8:26], the true representative of Christ on earth) is the name of the Beast
(Verse 17). According to the information found in Verses 17 and 18 we find the number of
his name, 666. Since in Latin certain
letters have numerical values, we only need to add them up. This is the prophecy which
points out the Antichrist. (Compare 2Thess 2:3-12; 1John 4:3; 2John 7; Rom 8:3). The Greek
word "Antichrist" means someone "that places himself in the position of the Lord's Anointed,
(from anti - instead, and crio - anointing)" (Konkordantes NT, p 371).
In other words, the Antichrist is the alleged representative of Christ -
exactly what the pope claims to be! If the pope would have to introduce himself in the
language of the New Testament he would have to say: "I am the Antichrist".
If the pope would have to introduce himself in the language of the New Testament he would have to say: "I am the Antichrist". |
Jesus Christ is the only, and true High Priest in the heavenly
sanctuary after his ascension, "a minister of the sanctuary,
and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man".
Heb 8:1-2. Here Jesus procures for us, daily, the way to the mercy seat of His Father
through His blood (John 14:6,13,14; Rom 8:34), whom we can approach any time by prayer
without the intervention of man, only by faith and trust in the atoning blood of Christ
(Heb 4:14; 5:10; 7:25; Matt 6:6-15).
The teaching of an added mediation by man or "departed saints" represents a
"blasphemy of the beast" against God and "His
tabernacle" of reconciliation in heaven according to Rev 13:6
(compare Dan 8:11-14 and 12:11 - there this condition is described as a
"transgression towards the sanctuary" or as "the abomination of
desolation").
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
It is not an outward symbol which is being forced upon every man against his will. If you
could not
refuse to accept the Mark, then God's warning to not accept it would be meaningless. Those
who refuse to accept the Mark of the Beast (the sign of authority or affiliation) are
described as: "...they that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus". Rev 14:12. It is those that have received the seal of God
(Rev 7:3,4; 14:1), and they are victorious over the Mark of the Beast (Rev 15:2; compare
Dan 3). The Mark of the Beast includes the transgression of God's law (compare Jas 2:10),
because the Seal of God, his sign of authority, is found in the 10 commandments (See
below).
The Mark of the Beast will be received on the forehead or in the hand (see Rev 13:17;
14:9). The forehead symbolizes awareness (belief, knowledge). The hand symbolizes man's
actions, (keeping or not keeping the commandments). This is also shown in Deut 11:8,18
(compare Deut 13:1-6) where it talks about the keeping of all 10 commandments.
Whosoever understands the requirements and the institution of the fourth
commandment, of which God states that this is the sign of his authority, and yet rejects
it, and instead honours what Rome has established as its sign of authority, the same
accepts the sign of affiliation with Rome, the Mark of the Beast. Not until the
establishment of a national Sunday law, when man will have to choose between the
commandments of God and the commandments of men, will those that continue in transgression
receive the Mark of the Beast. For the sincere Sunday keeper applies the following:
"the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30)
THE SEAL OF GOD
A sign or seal is used with the same meaning in the
Bible. (Rom 4:11).
An official seal must show three things:
The Seal of God is connected with His law and is found in the fourth commandment (Ex
20:8-11):
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the
sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son,
nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger
that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore
the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Compare Ex 31:13,17,18).
Even though all commandments are of equal importance in the sight of God (Jas 2:10), we
find the mark of the Seal of God only in the fourth commandment:
The Bible speaks of the Sabbath as the everlasting sign of God: "...Verily
my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a (eternal) sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know
that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Ex 31:13 (Compare Verses 16 and
17; Eze 20:12,20).
Jesus says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled." Matt 5:17,18.
There was someone who came to Jesus and asked him: "Good
Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus
answered: "...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments ...thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt
not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness..." Matt 19:16-19.
The seventh-day Sabbath is an integral part of God's law, a weekly reminder of Christ as our Creator and Redeemer. |
The seventh-day Sabbath is an integral part of God's law, a weekly reminder of
Christ as our Creator and Redeemer.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God... All things were made by him... And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth". John 1:1-3,14).
Similar to the promised rest of Israel at their entrance into the land of Canaan, the
Sabbath is a reminder of the promised "Sabbath
rest" at the entrance into the heavenly Canaan, (2 Pet 3:13; Heb
11:10,39,40; Rev 21:2), which will take place at the return of Christ, (Heb 3:10-19;
4:1-11; compare Deut 4:1-2; 1 Cor 10:11-13), after the wandering of 6000
years in the "desert of human history" since the fall of man in
Paradise.
If you go through the trouble of adding the time span for each mentioned generation
recorded in the Bible starting with Adam, you will come up with a total of about 4000
years arriving at the time of Christ. (See Atlas of World History, 1990 by K.
Thienemanns Press, Stuttgart-Vienna).
Herewith we can also see clearly that we are in the completion of the 6th
millennium of the history of mankind as has been foretold by God.
Regarding the return of Christ, the Bible says: "...one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet
3:8) Do you realize now "...that it is near, even at the
doors"? (Matt 24:33)
In the New Testament, God's people are called the spiritual Israel, which
by faith has received a spiritual circumcision of the heart. (Compare Col 2:11-12; Rom
2:28-29; Gal 3:6-9,28,29; 5:6; 6:15; Rom 11:25; 1Pet 2:9-10). The new covenant with Christ
causes in each person a new creation through His creative power. By the prophet Jeremiah
this very fact was foretold: "...But this shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people." Jer 31:31-33.
Consequently God's people will always uphold His law: "And the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev
12:17 The pure woman in prophecy symbolizes a pure church, a harlot a fallen church
(Compare 2Cor 11:2; Eze 16; Rev 17:18).
Now we understand what is meant by the three angel's messages of Revelation 14:
Will you stand in the Judgment?
The first angel speaks of God's judgment which will take place in heaven before the return of Christ, (compare Dan 7:9-12; 2Cor 5:10),
because it must be decided before his appearing who shall be raised from the dead to
eternal life, and who of the living will be translated at his appearing. (1 Thess 4:15-17;
John 5:27-29; Rev 20:5-6). In addition, the Bible speaks about a judgment taking place in
heaven during the 1000 years after the return of Christ in
which all faithful will take part in sentencing the unbelieving dead and the fallen
angels.
(Dan 7:22; 1Cor 6:2-3; Rev 20:4).
This sentence will be announced and executed after the 1000 years at
the resurrection of the unbelievers (John 5:29; Rev 20:7-15). The 10 commandments are the
unchangeable standard at God's judgment day. (Rev 11:19; Ps 89:34; Matt 7:21). The same is
reflected by the examplary attitude of Jesus (Phil 2:5; Rom 15:5), of which it says: "I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my
heart." Ps 40:8. (Compare John 6:38; 4:34; Ps 40:7-9; Heb 10:9; Luke 22:42).
We pray in the Lord's prayer: "Thy will be done",
but does the will of God become a reality in our sinful lifestyle? The Bible says: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1John 3:4), and "The wages of sin is death". (Rom 6:23). Then, when we
hear out of the mouth of the prophet: "Can the Ethiopian change
his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do
evil", (Jer 13:23; compare Rom 7:24), when we 
consider
our own lives, we must realize that there is no possibility that we, from ourselves, can
escape the judgment of God and the consequent eternal death. God, however, has made a way
of escape for all those that have been under the slavery of Satan. This path, which the
love of God has created, is called "Jesus Christ". "For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever, believeth in
him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Golgatha stands
as a memorial of this incomprehensible sacrifice, which was necessary to atone for the
transgressions of God's law. Therefore, we cannot look at sin as something harmless (Rom
6:15). God's offer of mercy is not a cheap offer. It requires your consent and complete
submission to God. Jesus says: "I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.
In His life, Jesus has shown us the way to His Father, and the way to eternal life.
How do we receive eternal life through Christ?
Jesus' answer today is the same as in the past: "Keep
the commandments ...and follow me!" Matt 19:17,21; compare 1Pet 2:21-25; Rev
14:4.
Discipleship for us today means that we study the life of Christ recorded in Holy
Scripture (John 5:39; 8:31,32), and that we obey his words (John 3:36; Heb 5:8,9; 11:8
etc; Jas 4:7; Rom 16:26). 
The Holy Spirit will cause the same
reaction in us as in the days of pentecost, when people confessed their sins and cried: "What must we do?" Peter's answer was: "Repent!" Acts 2:37-38. At another occasion he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out". Acts 3:19. The law of God, just like a mirror
, shows us
our defilement and sins (Rom 4:15; 3:20; 7:7), which Jesus wants to wash away with his
atoning blood. This is the birth of the human love response to God. Jesus, speaking about
the woman that was a sinner, said: "Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven; for she loved much..." Luke 7:47. "We
love him, because he first loved us. ...For this is the love of God (our response), that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous." 1 John 4:19; 5:3. In our love to Christ we receive from God the
power to overcome sin in our lives. "If ye love me, keep my
commandments. And ...the Father will give you another Comforter, ...the Spirit of
truth." John 14:15-17. The love and the strength of the Holy Spirit given to
us enables us to overcome sin the same way as Jesus overcame. (John 15:10; 1John 5:4-5;
Rev 3:21).
Through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Phil 2:5-8; John 16:28), we can
be sure that God knows what kind of power He needs to give us to enable us to fulfill the
requirements of God's law and to withstand the temptations of our weakened fleshly nature.
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death
, that is, the
devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage... Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that
he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb 2:14-18.
We can receive this power, which overcomes sin, only as we believe (John 6:28,29) in
Jesus' examplary righteousness (a sinless life in a fallen nature. Compare Rom 8:3; Heb
4:15), and as we personally accept in faith his substitutionary sacrifice (John 3:16;
1:29).
Jesus did not die for His own sins. We read: "For he hath made
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
him." 2Cor 5:21 (Compare 1John 3:5; John 8:46). This will mean that we repent
of our unrighteousness, acknowledge it, and turn from sin (the transgression of God's law)
and obey Him. (Prov 28:13; 1John 1:6-10; 2:4; 3:3-10; 1Pet 2:21; Matt 10:34-39).
Faith and repentance are gifts of God for those who seek them with an upright heart. God
will work in us both of it by his Holy Spirit whenever we give Him the opportunity. Faith
is the result of the proclamation and the study of the word of God (Rom 10:17). 
Jesus
said: "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have
eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39; compare Luke
24:25-27; John 2:22; Rom 16:26; Acts 17:11,12).
The study of accurately fulfilled divine prophecy, (concerning world history foretold and
the appearance of His Son), will strengthen our faith in the divine plan of redemption
through Jesus Christ and form a secure foundation for our faith. (2Pet 1:19-21).
For a sincere study of the word of God, we are promised an unseen divine Teacher: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you ...he will guide you into all truth ...thy word is
truth." John 14:26; 16:13; 17:17.
Whosoever rejects God's offer of mercy and knowingly does not listen to the word of truth,
does not read it, and does not test it, will not receive from God the saving power of
faith and will eventually be among those who are eternally lost. (Jer 6:17-19; 9:12-15;
Hos 4:6).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him". James 1:5.
Jesus tells us: "Ask, and it shall be given you... If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your
Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matt 7:7,11.
So let us ask, as did David: "Create in me a clean heart, O
God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps 51:10 (Compare Ps 139:23-24).
Whosoever will sincerely believe and pray will realize the experience: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phil 4:13.
Only as we follow Jesus with a sincere heart, and as we trust Him as our living Redeemer,
can we develop a character like His, and thereby be prepared for His return. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them." Heb 10:16. (Compare Jer 31:33).
Do you remember that the obedience of man was tested by a fruit in the garden of Eden (the
tree of knowledge of good and evil - Gen 2:16-17). Again, in the last days will the
obedience of man be tested with a special commandment of God (Jas 2:10). Then the
deceptive serpent asked: "Did God really say...?"
What catastrophic consequences did mankind reap from this disobedience?! (Gen 3)
Doubt towards a plain command of God is again being sown into the hearts of mankind in
this age by the arch enemy of God suggesting: "Is God really
taking it that serious with the seventh-day Sabbath?"
When it will be discovered that Sunday observance is nothing other than a man made
commandment, we must be reminded of the words of Jesus: "Well
hath Isaias prophesied of you hypocrites: ...'Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men... Ye reject the commandments of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition." Mark 7:6-9.
Through his prophet Ezekiel God admonishes his people: "Walk ye
not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments (traditions), nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am the Lord your God; walk in
my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. And hallow my sabbaths;
and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am
the Lord your God." Eze 20:18-20; Jer 9:12,13.
The commandments of men and their traditions do not free us from the Christian principle: "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29; 4:19.
What will your decision be - the Sabbath of the Lord or the papal Sunday? |
What will your decision be - the Sabbath of the Lord or the papal Sunday?
(Jer 10:2; 1Kings 18:21; 1Sam 15:22,23).
The Holy Spirit admonishes us: "...Today, if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts... For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that (sabbath-) rest, lest any man fall after the
same example of unbelief." Heb 4:7,10-11.
Only those will be redeemed and saved of which the Bible says: "Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus." Rev 14:12.
Terrible plagues and judgments will soon fall upon mankind who have received the Mark, the
name, or the number of the Beast, or who will worship the Beast and his Image (who submit
to an antichristian, religious-political authority), and who, by that act, have taken a
position against the clear will and warning of God (Rev 13:16-18; 14:9-11; 16:2; 18;
19:19-21).
This judgment hour message may cause fear in some. But in reality, it is a message of
salvation - a
The signs of the times tell us that we are in the very last hour of this earth's history! |
message from a loving God, "not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9)
Every sincere individual will experience that: "The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Prov 1:7 (Compare Luke 12:4,5; Ex 20:20).
Fear is created only by sin. (See Gen 3:10,11). However, after we have accepted
forgiveness through the love of God in Jesus Christ we will experience, that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear... He
that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us." 1John
4:18-19.
The feeling of being lost is changed into an assurance of salvation, and the fear of God
into respect and love. The hopelessness is changed into a singleness of purpose, and
general fear into a joyful expectation of the fulfillment of a divine promise. God's
offer, the time for repentance and return, will last only for a little while. Use this
time to seriously examine your own condition and to turn around as the time of probation
will soon end before the return of Christ.
The signs of the times tell us that we are in the very last hour of this
earth's history!
"But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements 
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and
the works that are therein shall be burned up... be diligent that ye may be found of him
in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2Pet 3:10,14. (Compare Isa 55:6-9; Mal
3:17,18; 4:1,2)."Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of
man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil." Eccl 12:13-14.
