FIRST QUARTER 2023
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #11
JUNE 10, 2023
“THE SEAL OF GOD AND MARK OF THE BEAST: PART 1”

 

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” (Revelation 7:2,3, NKJV).
 

We have all appreciated these timely studies by Pastor Mark Finley. In this week’s lesson we will study two marks: one the seal of God, and the other the mark of the Beast. The issues in these two marks are loyalty, authority and worship which reveal the differences between how God operates and how the enemy of our souls operates. Revelation 13 tells us that a crisis of liberty is coming. Liberty to decide who gets our worship, who gets our loyalty and, to whose authority we submit. Worship was the issue between Christ and Lucifer in heaven. It was the issue between Cain and Abel, the issue on Mount Carmel, the issue with the three Hebrew worthies in Daniel chapter 3, and the issue with the second temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness; it will be the issue at the end of time.
 

Revelation 13:1.     Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Revelation 13:4.     So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

Revelation 13:5-6.   And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

Revelation 13:8.     All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:11-12. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Revelation 13:15-17. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich, and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

We notice several things:

1. the word “blaspheme” in some form in vs. 1, 5-6 (three times).
2. coercive worship.
3. consequences for disobedience- killing or the inability to buy or sell.
4. the number 666 in verse 18.

 

According to the Bible, what is blasphemy? The Bible records two occasions where Christ was accused of blasphemy, one in Luke 5:18-26, and the other in John 10:33. “Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Luke 5:18-21). Jesus’ response was to at once heal the man, proving His authority to forgive sins.

“The Jews answered Him, saying, 'For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God’” (John 10:33). Jesus had just told the Jews that He and His Father were one, which infuriated the Jews. What then does the Bible mean by blasphemy?

1. If any human pretends to be, or claims to be God, or claims the privileges and prerogatives of God.
2. If any human claims the power to forgive sins.

 

In Christ’s case the accusations were unjust. The beast power in Revelation reveals the beast’s usurpation of prerogatives that only God has. The Roman Church claims the power to forgive sins and claims that the pope is the vicar of God on earth. On a side note, antichrist is often referred to as against Christ, but in Revelation it means “in place of.”

In Revelation 14 we see a group of people who are not deceived by the beast powers. The three angel’s messages, the capstone of this climactic chapter, are introduced by the first angel who proclaims the everlasting gospel. This is significant because as Ellen White notes here: “The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night, the Sun of Righteousness must rise, 'with healing in His wings.' Malachi 4:2.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 22. The thing we need, then, is not simply the everlasting gospel but framing everything in the context of the everlasting gospel.

The second angel warns us to watch out for the wine of Babylon, and the third angel warns us that false worship will be introduced by Babylon, and that it will be associated with a specific “mark.” The third message ends with a people who believe God. They are loyal to Him, and they worship Him. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” These saints endure and keep the commandments of God and keep the faith of Jesus. Both characteristics have meaning. We will look at them separately.

The first defining characteristic is, “those who keep the commandments of God”.  At the center of the commandments is the fourth commandment, which is the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy as the ultimate seal of God. We will look at 7 aspects that differentiate the seal of God from the mark of the beast.

 

Sabbath

1. Related to worship. “Worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the fountain of waters” (Revelation 14:7). He is the Creator and worthy of worship.
2. Related to a name. “having His name and the name of His Father written on their forehead” (Revelation 14:1). This name is character, a character that awakens us by love not by force or coercion.
3. Related to a number. “He rested on the seventh day” (Genesis 2:2).
4. Related to 6 but leading to 7. “Six days you shall labor but the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord” (Exodus 20:9-10). Deuteronomy 5:15 reminds us to remember that we were slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out. We were slaves to sin, but the Lord delivers us by His mighty hand and outstretched arm. It is God’s work!
5. Given to mankind. “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27).
6. Sign of identity for followers of the Lamb. “they follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:4).
7. Sign of submission to God’s work in our lives. “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” (Revelation 7:3). “It is God who works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

 

The Mark of the Beast

1. Related to worship. “Those who worship the beast…and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11), false worship.
2. Related to a name. “whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11); “a mark on his forehead or on his hand” (Revelation 14:9). This is a blasphemous name.
3. Related to a number. “; the mark…of the beast or the number of his name…666” (Revelation 13:17-18).
4. Related exclusively to 6. “His number is 666” (Revelation 13:18). The number 6 is related to human works.
5. Forced on mankind. “And he causes all…to be given a mark on their right hand” (Revelation 13:16).
6. Sign of identity: followers of the beast. “whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11); “the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3).
7. Sign of submission to the beast. “buy or sell…except the one who has the mark” (Revelation 13:17).

 

The Sabbath is the sign of creation and redemption, two things that are the exclusive work of God. Both express our resting in the accomplished, finished work of God. We cannot add to God’s perfect work—all we can do is respond with hearts full of appreciation. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 tell us that the reason for worship is that God the Father and God the Son are worthy.

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11). Revelation 5:9 adds, “‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation… Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’” The commandments of God and particularly the Sabbath commandment point us to these lifesaving truths.

The second characteristic mentioned in Revelation 14:12 is that those who endure keep the faith of Jesus. Ellen White and E. J. Waggoner comment on this vital part of the third angel’s message.

Ellen White:

 

The soul-saving message, the third angel's message, is the message to be given to the world. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are both important, immensely important, and must be given with equal force and power. The first part of the message has been dwelt upon mostly, the last part casually. The faith of Jesus is not comprehended. We must talk it, we must live it, we must pray it, and educate the people to bring this part of the message into their home life. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 184.

 

The rainbow above the throne is the bow of promise, testifying to the whole world that God will never forget his people in their struggle against evil. Let Jesus be our theme. Let us by pen and voice present, not only the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus. This will promote real heart-piety as nothing else can. —Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, December 13, 1892, par. 9.

 

The third angel's message is the proclamation of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The commandments of God have been proclaimed, but the faith of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed by Seventh-day Adventists as of equal importance, the law and the gospel going hand in hand. I cannot find language to express this subject in its fullness.

 

“The faith of Jesus.” It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel's message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. And faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus. — Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 172.

 

E.J. Waggoner:

 

In another place Paul expresses his desire when the Lord comes to be found “not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:9. Here again we have “the faith of Christ.” Still further, it is said of the saints, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9. Christ is faithful, for “he abideth faithful.” 2 Timothy 2:13. God deals to everyone a measure of faith. Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8. He imparts to us his own faithfulness. This he does by giving us himself. So that we do not have to get righteousness which we ourselves manufacture; but to make the matter doubly sure, the Lord imparts to us in himself the faith by which we appropriate his righteousness. Thus, the faith of Christ must bring the righteousness of God because the possession of that faith is the possession of the Lord himself. This faith is dealt to every man, even as Christ gave himself to every man. Do you ask what then can prevent every man from being saved? The answer is, Nothing, except the fact that all men will not keep the faith. If all would keep all that God gives them, all would be saved.— E. J. Waggoner, Waggoner on Romans, p. 59.

 

Our memory text was taken from Revelation 7. There we see four angels, four corners of the earth, and four winds of the earth. We see the four angels standing at the four corners, holding back the four winds from blowing on the earth, sea, and trees. The four corners means that the whole earth is threatened. The four winds viewed in the light of the great controversy between Christ and Satan represent the efforts of Satan to destroy everything and all people and win the war. The four angels represent a whole host of angel armies fighting with all their might to keep us from the roaring lion, Satan himself. When the work of sealing the people of God is complete, God will tell the angels that their work is over. The idea of the seal of God is first presented in the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 9. The seal is affixed upon God’s faithful people who exhibit Christlike characters and love the truth as it is in Jesus. Revelation 7:3 refers to the people of God as servants or bondservants indicating their total commitment or enslavement to God and His truth. Their minds are made up.

 

Revelation 14:1,4 states, “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” How do the one hundred and forty-four thousand accomplish this transformation? The same way Jesus did. “Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He had relied upon the evidence of His Father's acceptance heretofore given Him. He was acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, His mercy, and His great love. By faith He rested in Him whom it had ever been His joy to obey. And as in submission He committed Himself to God, the sense of the loss of His Father's favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christ was victor.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 756. We too will be victorious only by the faith of Jesus. May we keep the faith.

 

May God bless as we contemplate the truth for this time.

 

~Lyndi Schwartz