|
Chapter
52
The Third Angel's
Message
[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]
Against
whose worship are the dwellers of earth warned by the third angel?
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in
his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God." Rev. 14:9.
What beast
had been seen coming up out of the sea?
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a
beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon
his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Rev. 13:1.
What power
was given to this beast?
"And it was given unto him to make war with the
saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations." Rev. 13:7
What was
the result of his overcoming the saints?
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship
him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8.
What did
the "mother of harlots" do to the saints?
"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of
the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." Rev. 17:6.
And what
did she succeed in accomplishing by her course?
"The inhabitants of the earth have been made
drunk with the wine of her fornication." Rev. 17:2.
NOTE. - The beast of Rev.
13, and the woman of Rev. 17, are identical. They are symbols of the Roman
Church. She put to death millions of saints, and finally so nearly overcame the
whole world that even "the kings of the earth" were subdued, and made
to pay her homage and worship. See Four Great Monarchies
and A Remarkable Symbol.
What other
beast was seen to arise after the one last described?
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the
earth; and he had two horns
like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Rev. 13:11.
NOTE. - This symbol
represents the United States of America. For confirmation of this, see reading
on "The Last Nation Noticed in Prophecy."
What is
the two-horned beast to do?
"Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that
they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did
live." Rev. 13:14.
What will
the two horned beast require all under its jurisdiction to receive?
"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." Rev. 13:16.
What will
be the result?
"And that no man might buy or sell, save
he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Rev. 13:17.
How much
power is to be given to the image of the beast?
"And he had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many
as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Rev.
13:15.
NOTE.- The image of the
beast is to have the same power as the beast itself has had to kill those who
will not obey its dogmas.
After
uttering His warning by the third angel against all this, what does God offer
instead, as that which will manifest the patience of the saints?
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev.
14:12,
What does
the Bible set forth as the "commandments of God?"
"And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of
the fire;... and He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to
perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of
stone." Deut. 4:12, 13.
Were these
ten commandments the complete law of God?
"These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in
the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness,
with a great voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them in two tables
of stone." Deut. 5:22.
Why should
the law of God be obeyed?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for
sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.
How much
of the law should one keep to be called a commandment keeper?
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10.
How does
the apostle illustrate his meaning in this statement?
"For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said
also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art
become a transgressor of the law." James 2:11.
NOTE. - If keeping the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will be proof against worshiping the
beast and his image, and receiving his mark, then it is plain that those who do
worship the beast do not keep the commandments. It is also established by
this that the great religious controversy of the last generation is to be over
the commandments of God.
Why will
the remnant church be persecuted?
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of
God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.
|