Tuesday March 5
The First Angel’s Message: Part 2
Revelation shows that the central issues in the last crisis of earth’s history will be worship and obedience to God, as revealed in keeping His commandments (Rev. 14:12). The people of the world will fall into two groups: those who fear and worship God, and those who fear and worship the beast.
The world is choosing each day which group they will end up in. It is the character that reveals who they are following. Has self died? Are we reflecting the character of Christ? Who has the heart? At the end, there will be only two groups. Those who have hardened their hearts in resisting God and His truth, and those who have been learning of God and seeking to do His will through the power of His grace. By beholding we become changed into one or the other character. The Bible says that the time will soon come when the holy will remain holy and the filthy will remain filthy. The character will never change, for they are sealed for ever in one of the two groups.
Review the first four commandments of the Decalogue (Exod. 20:2-11). Then go through Revelation 13. How does the beast’s demand for worship (Rev. 13:7-8), the setting up of an image to the beast to be worshiped (Rev. 13:14-15), blasphemy of God and His name (Rev. 13:5-6), and receiving of the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16-17) point to Satan’s attacks on the first four commandments of the Decalogue in the final crisis?
The central concept of the first four commandments of the Decalogue is worship. Revelation indicates that these commandments will become the standard of loyalty to God in the final crisis. The final conflict between Christ and Satan plainly will revolve around worship and the first four commandments.
Yes, but all of the commandments must be obeyed, not just the first four. And, the issue will revolve around one commandment that will reveal to the universe and this world which side we are on. The last great test will be on the fourth commandment. And if offend here, then we offend in all of the commandments. Why is this?
The key issue in the final crisis is emphasized in the second exhortation of the first angel’s message. The call to “worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Rev. 14:7, NKJV) is almost an exact quotation of the fourth commandment of the Decalogue (Exod. 20:11). This fact shows that the call to worship God the Creator is a call to Sabbath observance.
Rest and worship on the seventh day - Saturday - is a special sign of our relationship with God (Exod. 31:13, Ezek. 20:12). The first angel’s message is a call to worship the Creator.
“While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God”. - Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605.
Amen! This has not always been the case. But, at the end, the Sabbath commandment will be the test. It is interesting that God allowed the fourth commandment to be misunderstood for so many years, but it was so very wise. Why is that? Because it is one the ten commandments. When I found out the Sabbath was on Saturday, I was amazed. I had thought all of my life the Sabbath was Sunday. When I was converted, I wanted to know why we all were going to church on the Sunday. Because it was one of the ten commandments, I would not let go until I got a good answer. I never got a good answer. It was Walter Martin who convinced me that there was no good answer, so I walked into a Seventh-day Adventist Church 35 years ago. When I sas the world in the church, I wept. But, I would not leave because I knew God led me into the church.
This is His church and it will see revival and reformation. It is a Bible promise.
How is our view of Creation and Salvation related? Why is resting on the Sabbath as God did so important?
God is all powerful. He is the creator God. He created Adam out of the dust of the ground. Amazing! Do we believe it? Sure we do. Then, believe He can recreate you into His image (character). It is the greatest of all miracles. It was easy for God to create Adam. It is not so easy for God to recreate me. Matter of fact it is impossible for God to it on His own. He cannot make me love Him. We all have free will. Unless we learn of Him, unless we make a whole heart surrender, He cannot recreate us in His image. So, we also in creation see His love for us. It was for us He created the world in six days. And, if this is not enough to prove His love, He allowed His innocent Son to come to this dark spot in the universe a helpless baby subject to the weakness of humanity to fight the battle of life as we must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss! Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth! Herein love!!