"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16).

"Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast."–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 976.

Suggested Readings: The Great Controversy, pp. 451—460.
Maranatha, pp. 211—221.

Sunday September 9

1. THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD

a. What has always been the mark, sign, or seal of God? Ezekiel 20:12, 20.

"When the Sabbath was changed by the papal power, the seal was taken from the law. The disciples of Jesus are called upon to restore it by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment to its rightful position as the Creator’s memorial and the sign of His authority."–The Great Controversy, p. 452.

b. Whereas the seal of God is placed only on the foreheads, where else may the mark of the beast be placed? Revelation 13:16 (last part).

"After the warning against the worship of the beast and his image the prophecy declares: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Since those who keep God’s commandments are thus placed in contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, it follows that the keeping of God’s law, on the one hand, and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast."–The Great Controversy, pp. 445, 446.

Monday September 10

2. AS IN THE DAYS OF ESTHER

a. Why were the people of Israel in the time of Queen Esther persecuted and destined to be killed? Esther 3:8.

"The decree which is to go forth against the people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews in the time of Esther. The Persian edict sprang from the malice of Haman toward Mordecai. Not that Mordecai had done him harm, but he had refused to show him reverence which belongs only to God."–Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 450.

b. What was the result of the decree regarding the people of Israel? Esther 8:13—17. What will be the outcome of the imposition of the mark of the beast?

"History will repeat itself. In this age the test will be on the point of Sabbath observance. The same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past, is now at work to gain control of the falling churches, that through them he may condemn and put to death all who will not worship the idol sabbath."–The Signs of the Times, February 22, 1910.

"I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty after a certain time to put them to death. But in this hour of trial the saints were calm and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His promise that a way of escape would be made for them. In some places, before the time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints to slay them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High; but Jesus bade His angels watch over them. God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him."–Early Writings, pp. 282, 283.

Tuesday September 11

3. BEFORE THE FINAL TEST

a. In view of the preparations that are now being made, what assurance is given us that the great final crisis will come? Hebrews 10:37; Matthew 24:35.

"The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones." –Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11.

"More and more, as the days go by, it is becoming apparent that God’s judgments are in the world. In fire and flood and earthquake He is warning the inhabitants of this earth of His near approach. The time is nearing when the great crisis in the history of the world will have come, when every movement in the government of God will be watched with intense interest and inexpressible apprehension. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another–fire and flood and earthquake, with war and bloodshed."–Ibid., p. 97.

b. What movement will go forward before the great final test (universal Sunday decree) is urged upon men? Isaiah 60:1, 2; Habakkuk 2:14.

"God [has] children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the churches and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time God’s chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us."–Early Writings, p. 33.

"He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently."–The Great Controversy, p. 605.

Wednesday September 12

4. THE MARK IMPRESSED

a. What will the rulers of the earth do as far as the conscience of the people is concerned? Mark 10:42.

"It is no part of Christ’s mission to compel men to receive Him. It is Satan, and men actuated by his spirit, who seek to compel the conscience. Under a pretense of zeal for righteousness, men who are confederated with evil angels sometimes bring suffering upon their fellow men in order to convert them to their ideas of religion." –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 541.

"God is going to bring around a condition of things where the good men and the men in authority will have an opportunity to know what is truth indeed. And because a people will not bow the knee to the image, and receive the mark of the beast in the hand or the forehead, but will stand to the truth because it is truth, there will be oppression, and an attempt to compel the conscience; but those who have known the truth will be afraid to yield to the powers of darkness. God has a people who will not receive the mark of the beast in their right hand or in their forehead."–The Review and Herald, April 15, 1890.

b. In the time of Daniel, when all were compelled to bow before an image, what did the three faithful Hebrews do? Daniel 3:4—6, 16—18. What should be the attitude of those who would not receive the mark of the beast?

"When Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image was set up on the plains of Dura, Daniel’s three companions were commanded to fall down and worship it; but their principles forbade them to pay homage to the idol, for it was a rival to the God of heaven."–The Signs of the Times, November 5, 1896.

"Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the Word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The papacy has exercised her power to compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism."–Ibid., May 6, 1897.

Thursday September 13

5. TWO CLASSES OF CHRISTIANS

a. In the time of the great crisis, the final test (Sunday decree) soon to come, how many classes of Christians will exist on earth? Malachi 3:18.

"In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great classes–those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel ‘all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond’ (Revelation 13:16), to receive ‘the mark of the beast,’ yet the people of God will not receive it."–The Great Controversy, p. 450.

b. What invitation will be extended to the sincere souls that are still in the fallen churches at the time of the final test? Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 51:6; Revelation 18:4.

"God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and ‘receive not of her plagues.’ Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard: ‘Come out of her, My people.’ These announcements, uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth."–The Great Controversy, p. 604.

Friday September 14

1. Of what is the mark of the beast a counterfeit, and in what two ways can it be received?
2. Why does the coming crisis remind us of Queen Esther?
3. What is now taking place before the hour of crisis?
4. How can we now be gathering strength for the future?
5. Why has the calm before the storm been prolonged?

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