Thursday: Come Out of Her, My People
Over the years, students of Bible prophecy have been following world events with great interest, particularly as they seem to relate to the end time. Think, for instance, about the role of the United States. As far back as 1851 some Adventists were identifying America as the second beast power (Rev. 13:11-15), which was a very remarkable identification given the status of the United States then.
Image © Phil McKay Goodsalt.com
In the mid-1800s, the big powers were still the Old World ones: Prussia, France, Austria-Hungary, and England. At that time America had a peace-time army of about twenty thousand men, about one-tenth the number of combatants at the Battle of Waterloo (1815) alone. In 1814, just forty years earlier, the British invaded and burned Washington, D.C. In 1876, Sitting Bull’s braves wiped out General Custer’s Seventh U.S. Cavalry regiment. Thus, even after some commentators identified the United States as the power that would one day enforce the “mark of the beast” on the world, the nation was still fighting native Americans on its own soil, and not always winning either!
No question, world events are following as we have believed they would. But still more things need to unfold before we reach the end. That’s why, for instance, in talking about the “mark of the beast”, it’s very important to emphasize that right now no one has it, regardless of whether or not they are keeping the fourth commandment.
Besides, more needs to unfold.
Read Revelation 18:1-4. What is happening here, and why is this important for us to remember now? What do these verses teach us about our mission to the world?
These verses paint a bleak picture of the world politically, morally, and spiritually. They show the malevolent influence of false religious teaching in the world. At the same time, though, they offer great hope, because another angel from heaven lights the world with his glory. Further, God’s faithful people, the ones who haven’t learned yet what they need to know, are called out of Babylon. This means, then, that right up to the end, God’s people who are already out of Babylon have a work to do for those who are still in it.
| What should it mean to us that the Lord calls some of those still in Babylon “My people”? Why is this an important point for us to remember as we relate to others? |
(43)
Adam where are you?
Sin deprived humanity lost the oneness with Lord.
God has been the one seeking to restore the relationship.
If God did not create enmity within our heart, we would all have been lost.
Genesis 6:3 My Spirit will not contend with humans forever,
Genesis 6:5 every inclination of thoughts of the human heart were ONLY evil ALL the time.
It is ONLY by the grace of God we have goodness in the world.
Through the church God is calling his people out of sin (Babylon).
John 10:27 & 28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
preach the gospel
No condemnation, no judgment, no exclusive gospel, no pride
Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words
Maybe there was a typographical error in the history lesson. I believe the author referred to what is also known as Custer's Last Stand which took place in 1876 not 1867.
You are correct Earl. June, 1876.
[The lesson text is now corrected.]
I believe that is good to share with others the truth about the "seal of God" - what does the Bible tell us about it?
1) it is in the forehead Rev 7
2) it is the name of the Lamb & the Father Rev 14
3) he who overcomes will have God's name written on him/her Rev 3
4) we are sealed by the Holy Spirit
2Co_1:22 who also has sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Eph_1:13 in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph_4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Rev 14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father having been written on their foreheads.
Rev 7:1 And after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that a wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it had been granted to harm the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we shall seal the servants of our God on their foreheads."
Thank you sister. Godbless.
Seal of God is for God's people who are already out of Babylon and God's people who heed the warning of the second angels message, and the message reiterated by the angel of Revelation 18:1-4. We have the privlage of letting the Holy Spirit use us, in the work with those who are still in Babylon, the ones who haven't learned yet what they need to know. The starting of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd angels message may not have been simultaneously. But they now fly in formation proclaiming the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd message simultaneously.
The judgement of the first angel of Revelation 14 has to be talking about the same judgement that the second and third angels are talking about and also The fourth angel in Revelation 18 and especially the voice from heaven (God's own voice) that eventually is heard saying to "come out of her" so that they (God's people) no longer partake of Babylons' sins and receive not of her plagues (her judgement - The Seven Last Plagues.)
Hello Newbegin,
As you point out, the Creator's call to come out of the Deceiver's church (the body of those who believe him and his deceptive message) began in the Garden and continues to this day. Many people believe that worship is what occurs in a building on some particular day of the week or time of year. But what a person worships is really the fundamental that determines his thoughts, words and actions—it is what controls that person’s focus in life, and it is what shapes his character. A person does not have to belong to the Harlot’s church to be in Babylon.
For example, a person who fears for his financial security may develop an obsession with accumulating money and possessions. He will try to squeeze every penny possible out of every transaction through sharp hard dealings with people. Driven by his fear, he will work long hours to the detriment of his social relationships (that is, his family) and may eventually end up taking legal, ethical and moral “short cuts” to accumulate wealth. Sacrificing all on the altar of the money god, he grovels at its base, hoping all his works will appease his god’s wrath and buy its favour. His character is formed by the god he worships.
However, because of his great love for us, our Creator and Saviour is calling each one of us out the sin that so easily besets us—out of darkness into his marvelous light. He calls us from our dysfunctional relationships with people and things to draw near to him. He invites us to seek to know him in each moment and situation of our lives, drawing near to us to mold us into his image, to mark us with his love and character. This is why those who love Jesus have great peace regardless of circumstance, while those who worship (are devoted to—are slaves to) the Beast and have his mark have no peace day or night, and the smoke (the result) of their torment rises endlessly. For those who have the mark of the Beast, destruction in the Lake of Fire is release and relief from the endless torment of their worship.
O God! That those who profess your name (character) would work your love to deliver these tormented ones before they are consumed and destroyed by their lusts and fears.