Sabbath: God’s Seal or the Beast’s Mark?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 17:9-11; Exod. 31:13, Exod. 31:17; Rev. 13:17; Eph. 1:13-14; Heb. 4:9-10.
Memory Text: “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3).
The Song of Moses and the Lamb begins with the words of our memory text this week. It is sung by “them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name”, as they stand on the sea of glass in heaven (Rev. 15:2) . How can we be among that number?
One of the most telling signs of God’s true last-day people is their proclamation of the third angel’s message, which warns against receiving the mark of the beast. However, despite there being no more serious warning in all the Bible, many confusing ideas as to what this mark is have been suggested over the years: a bar code in the forehead, a credit card number, or some biometric identification.
We should not be surprised at the proliferation of confusing ideas in Babylon. After all, its name means “confusion”. But God’s remnant people need a clear understanding of this topic in order to proclaim the third angel’s message with power. This week, we’ll try to understand better what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid it — by receiving the seal of God.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 16.
(70)
8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have CLOSELY followed his steps;
I have kEPT to his way without turning aside.
12 I have not DEPARTED from the commands of his lips;
I have TREASURED the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Job knew the confidence he had on the Lord. He could not see him but his trust in the Lord was unshakable. He knew this Great Controversy will end and he will com forth as gold.
Job says, In spite of how I feel. In spite of the accusation from his friends, In spite of the injustice he felt he did not deserve, he says, I will not give up my faith in God.
Book of Job is our story written for the end time. It may seem no one is on our side but God is on our side. The final victory will be ours through Our Lord and King.
our song will be
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
lJust and true are Your ways,
O King of the nations!
Today's lesson states:"One of the most telling signs of God’s true last-day people is their proclamation of the third angel’s message, which warns against receiving the mark of the beast" and "But God’s remnant people need a clear understanding of this topic in order to proclaim the third angel’s message with power."
What does it mean to PROCLAIM the third angel's message? What does this proclaiming look like?
Good question Phil. Here’s my answer for the question. The first step in proclaiming the three angles message is, our lifestyle must not or cannot be identified with anything that goes against the character of God. We must be willing to brighten the corner where are that’s a great start.
PHIL, I like the way you put your question and I thinks it opens our discussion this week
In Psalms 96:3 “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” Here King David is proclaiming for God’s wonders and is much eager to tell people by showing love, the same should be true of God’s people. When we are so filled with love for Him and the blessings of the Spirit, we cannot keep silent. When you proclaim to the world the word of God, you make it clear that the listeners may understand, like in Nehemiah 8 we are given an interesting and helpful picture of what happened in Jerusalem when the Exiles returned from captivity and rebuilt the city. The Book of the Law of Moses was brought out, Ezra read it aloud before the people, and the Levites instructed the people "…making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read" (Nehemiah 8:8).
In the New Testament we are given more complete information about how God designs to use the reading and preaching of his Word. Paul, who was a preacher, knew there was a God-designed process. In Romans verses 10: 14-18 he lays out the steps of that process before the Roman Christians.
•Someone is sent by God to proclaim the Word.
•When the preacher preaches, people hear and believe.
•When they believe, they call on the name of the Lord and are saved. (See Romans 10:14-15)
We should put our trust upon the Lord, have confidence and be bold to tell it allowed (publicly) that people may understand and believe the word of God and know the true worship. It’s when you arm yourself with the word in that when the enemy comes to trick you, you can stand the seal of the beast and remain a victorious over the beast and his deadly marks.