SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Tuesday August 27, 1996



When do People Receive the Mark of the Beast?

(Rev. 13:12-17).

The answer is found in Revelation 13:12-17:

Has the lamblike beast as yet exercised "all the authority of the first beast in its presence" (verse 12, RSV)?

Has the lamblike beast as yet " [made] the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed" (verse 12)?

Has the lamblike beast yet deceived the whole world "bidding them make an image for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived" (verse 14)?

Has the lamblike beast yet caused all to obey secular laws enforcing a decree of the church (verse 16)?

Has the lamblike beast applied an economic boycott to those who refuse the mark of the beast (verse 17)?

"Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome ‘the mark of the beast.' And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive 'the mark of the beast.' The Great Controversy, p. 449.

What fearful punishment will those receive who worship the beast and its image and receive its mark? Rev. 14:9-11.