SDA questions

[brimac]

I have been posting some questions that I have about the SDA church in the other forum and Trust and obey invited me to post in this forum, so if guys dont mind I'd like to discuss some of thesethings!

 

[brimac]

Ok, back to what we were discussing in the other forum! Do you think that the Sunday Sabbath will be forced by law and if so under what penalty?

 

[TrustAndObey]

I'm glad you took me up on the invitation Brimac!

I know my fellow Traditionals won't mind a bit that you're here, and you are very welcome to ask questions of us.

I think the penalty would start with not being able to buy or sell (but we're promised God will provide for us), so it would then progress to the penalty of death.

If you think about our current atmosphere in the U.S., a lot of laws are being implemented in the name of "homeland security".

When we're scared of the unknown we put our stamp of approval on things that we normally wouldn't.

Personally, I can foresee something like "we took God out of this country and now it's time to bring Him back" type of laws being hurried up and put in place if things get scarier for this country.

Under that guise, I could definitely see people saying things like "if you do not go to church, you are not a Christian and this country needs Christian unity right now. Anyone else must be a terrorist!"

Fear makes us react in ways we just wouldn't otherwise.

I can remember being at work on 9/11 when the events unfolded on television. My husband worked for the Department of Defense at the time, and it was his day off. I knew they were going to call him in and that it could possibly be the last time I'd ever see him again (at least that was my way of thinking while I was afraid).

I asked to go home and they sent me sailing out the door since I was such a wreck. I also called my son's school and told them I was coming to get him. They informed me that they were on lock down and I'd need to bring two forms of ID.

When I got there, I saw a UPS driver at the front of the school and I can remember thinking he was probably a terrorist.

I was a small woman....maybe weighed 120 soaking wet at that time....but I was ready to take him down. I followed him into that school and he could probably FEEL my eyes on his back the whole time.

I suspected someone of something that I wouldn't have normally....again, out of fear.

Never mind the fact that I'd seen him at that same school about 10 times before that day!

Maybe a little over-simplified, but I'm sure you get the picture.

If there's another terrorist attack, or a full-blown attack on our country, I definitely see the American people rubber-stamping laws they think will help bring her back into some kind of unity.

Those laws won't always be scriptural however. That's why it's so important to know the bible and to react with common sense instead of out of fear.

But yeah, that's how *I* see it going down. And I think it might appear to be working at first, so other countries will try to follow suit.

In the end, it's a decision we'll have to make. Follow God or follow satan.

 

[brimac]

I'm glad you took me up on the invitation Brimac!

I know my fellow Traditionals won't mind a bit that you're here, and you are very welcome to ask questions of us.

I think the penalty would start with not being able to buy or sell (but we're promised God will provide for us), so it would then progress to the penalty of death.

If you think about our current atmosphere in the U.S., a lot of laws are being implemented in the name of "homeland security".

When we're scared of the unknown we put our stamp of approval on things that we normally wouldn't.

Personally, I can foresee something like "we took God out of this country and now it's time to bring Him back" type of laws being hurried up and put in place if things get scarier for this country.

Under that guise, I could definitely see people saying things like "if you do not go to church, you are not a Christian and this country needs Christian unity right now. Anyone else must be a terrorist!"

Fear makes us react in ways we just wouldn't otherwise.

I can remember being at work on 9/11 when the events unfolded on television. My husband worked for the Department of Defense at the time, and it was his day off. I knew they were going to call him in and that it could possibly be the last time I'd ever see him again (at least that was my way of thinking while I was afraid).

I asked to go home and they sent me sailing out the door since I was such a wreck. I also called my son's school and told them I was coming to get him. They informed me that they were on lock down and I'd need to bring two forms of ID.

When I got there, I saw a UPS driver at the front of the school and I can remember thinking he was probably a terrorist.

I was a small woman....maybe weighed 120 soaking wet at that time....but I was ready to take him down. I followed him into that school and he could probably FEEL my eyes on his back the whole time.

I suspected someone of something that I wouldn't have normally....again, out of fear.

Never mind the fact that I'd seen him at that same school about 10 times before that day!

Maybe a little over-simplified, but I'm sure you get the picture.

If there's another terrorist attack, or a full-blown attack on our country, I definitely see the American people rubber-stamping laws they think will help bring her back into some kind of unity.

Those laws won't always be scriptural however. That's why it's so important to know the bible and to react with common sense instead of out of fear.

But yeah, that's how *I* see it going down. And I think it might appear to be working at first, so other countries will try to follow suit.

In the end, it's a decision we'll have to make. Follow God or follow satan.

What is your view of the endtimes? I know thats a broad question, but tell me how you thing it will play out!

 

[TrustAndObey]

What is your view of the endtimes? I know thats a broad question, but tell me how you thing it will play out!

If you really want to know how I think it will play out, it'd take me about 10 days to type it all out with scripture. Seriously.

I did that once actually, but lost my E drive to a virus. I lost a lot of pictures of my sons with all those studies too.

Maybe you could just ask about one particular thing...like the rapture (which I do NOT believe in) or what happens right when Christ returns, the resurrections, etc.

If you can give me a starting point I think I could chop it down to a more enjoyable reading experience.

 

[SassySDA]

Welcome, Brimac, we are glad you are here.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we welcome anyone who has questions.

I can tell you what I think is going to happen during the "endtimes", but it will be an abridged version...maybe T&O can expound for you from my beginning...

First of all, if one reads Revelation, it's VERY clear that there is not going to be ANY "rapture". Jesus return is going to be LOUD, it specifically states this as well as that "all eyes will see Him".

First He will call to the "dead in Him". They will be the first to rise to Him in the clouds, then the rest of us will fly up to meet Him there as well, and we will all go to heaven with Him.

During the time we are with Him in heaven, (1,000 year reign - remember, time is much different for God than what we perceive it to be here.), Satan will continue to reign and wreak his havoc on the earth along with those who were "left behind". Whoa be to them, we can't even imagine...

While we are with Him in heaven, we will also be looking at those of us, our family members, friends, etc., who AREN'T with us in heaven. The "books" will be opened to us so that we will see how He judged, and that He judged fairly. When this is done, it is written that he will wipe the tears from our eyes, and there will be no more sorrow. I firmly believe that after that point, we will no longer have any memory of loved ones that didn't make it.

We will return with Jesus in New Jerusalem, and it is at this time, the second coming that he will rise the wicked dead, and along with the wicked living they will be cast into the lake of fire and basically incinerated. There's a lot more detail here, I'm just giving you the short version, so Trust and Obey, please feel free to step in and expound.

I'm going to end this right here, because I have some other things that I have to get into. I also believe this is a lot to take in. I was born and raised a Baptist filled with Hellfire and Brimstone sermons, so when I read the bible with my own eyes and could CLEARLY see that there is no actual Hell that people will burn in forever, it was really hard for me, at first, to digest and accept. There are many other scriptures in the Bible that attest to the fact that we don't burn forever in a Hellfire as well, but for me, Revelations made it completely and perfectly clear.

Jesus tells us that we will "walk on their ashes". He's talking about the ashes of those that burned in Hell at the very end. If we're walking on their ashes, they can't still be burning.

After I continued to study, and this became easier to accept THROUGH study, it is actually the only thing that makes sense...and believe me brother, God MAKES sense, He is not the author of confusion. How can we tell people of our loving God, a God that is waiting to forgive you for your sins in one breath, and then tell them of a vengeful God that is going to burn sinners in Hell and torment them forever in another?

As I said, this is the "shorthand version". I'm hoping Trust and Obey can help you further...

Again, welcome. I'm truly glad you stopped in to chat with us, and ask ALL of the questions you like.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Sassy, I have to go make some lunch (I just realized I haven't eaten today), but I did want to add something real fast.

Scripture says that when Christ returns He will destroy the wicked by the brightness of His coming.

I don't think ANYONE will be "left behind". I think satan will be all alone, with no one to tempt.

Then the wicked are resurrected 1,000 years later. The second resurrection. The resurrection of damnation.

The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished. Rev 20:5

 

[TrustAndObey]

Brimac, I have to go eat but I'll be back in a little while.

 

[brimac]

Do you believe in a 7 year tribulation?

 

[Jon0388g]

Another 9/11 will kick something off, in my opinion. It will happen eventually, and when it does, the pawns are already in place to enforce any means necessary for "public security."

A pastor I respect very highly made a very good point a couple of weeks back. The world is so busy focussing on Islam, with the media purposefully painting it in a fearful, dreadful light - terrorism etc. All the while, Rome seems to be the great peaceful mediator. The world is pushing so hard for unity in culture, government, and religion in order to fight terrorism, whilst the Bible tells us to "come out of her".

The Bible tells us the lamb-like beast will make the earth worship the image of the first beast. America will instigate the Sunday Law, in the name of peace and unity, where all religions can come under one umbrella to worship freely and peacefully, of course, headed by Rome. If anyone refuses, they will be branded a danger to society, an "extremist."

I remember thinking I could never see the Sunday Law actually coming into force. It seems too ridiculous. But now, especially post 9/11, I can see the cards falling into place.


Jon

 

[brimac]

Another 9/11 will kick something off, in my opinion. It will happen eventually, and when it does, the pawns are already in place to enforce any means necessary for "public security."

A pastor I respect very highly made a very good point a couple of weeks back. The world is so busy focussing on Islam, with the media purposefully painting it in a fearful, dreadful light - terrorism etc. All the while, Rome seems to be the great peaceful mediator. The world is pushing so hard for unity in culture, government, and religion in order to fight terrorism, whilst the Bible tells us to "come out of her".

The Bible tells us the lamb-like beast will make the earth worship the image of the first beast. America will instigate the Sunday Law, in the name of peace and unity, where all religions can come under one umbrella to worship freely and peacefully, of course, headed by Rome. If anyone refuses, they will be branded a danger to society, an "extremist."

I remember thinking I could never see the Sunday Law actually coming into force. It seems too ridiculous. But now, especially post 9/11, I can see the cards falling into place.


Jon

I personally think that rather than islam, the one world religion will be pure Satanism!

 

[Jon0388g]

I personally think that rather than islam, the one world religion will be pure Satanism!

I don't think there will be one world religion. There will be a unity of religions in my opinion, but not in the sense that it will all be the same.

Nonetheless, they will all be worshipping the same Lucifer one way or another.


Jon

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hi Brimac,

Welcome to the SDA forum. From what I have read so far in this thread it would seem that you have many questions. And thats good. However to fully understand the end times andhow they will play out, we first need to see who all the, shall we say, players are. With your premission I'll go to my files and find a starting point that will, I hope, make the whole subject easier to understand.

If you do have specific questions I'll do my best to give you simple, straight answers. I promise you that There will be no question unanswered. So put your thinking cap on and I'll be back shortly.

Respectfully, your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hello once again,

A practical place to start studying the end times is; what/who is the Antichrist? And what is his real role in all of the things talked about in the book of Revelation.The identification of the Antichrist starts with analyzing the original Greek text. It would also be helpful to remember that the Apostle John started the book of Revelation with what would seem to be the correct name for this last book of the Bible when he started his writing with "The Revelation of Jesus Christ."

Thoughts on the Biblical Term Antichrist​

In I John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3, and II John 7 we find the term antichrist used, which has generally been understood to mean opposed to Christ, or against Christ, with the assumption that the Greek prefix anti means essentially what the English anti means. In English anti-war would rightfully be understood to mean against war, or opposed to war. However, the question must be asked, What is the primary meaning of the GREEK word anti, and how does this amplify our understanding of the biblical term antichrist?



Fortunately, there are numerous examples of the Greek term anti found in the Scripture, and an examination of them will prove helpful. There at least 16 occurences of the term anti found in the New Testament, with 15 of them being translated for in the King James Bible, while one time it is translated by the phrase in the room of. Let us look at the usage first of all, which is found in Matt.2:22.

"But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room ofhis father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into parts of Galilee".​

One of the many times anti is translated for is Matt.20:28, a passage which reads

"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."​

Another is the familiar Luke 2:2:

"If a son shall ask bread of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent?"​

One more example is Heb.12:16, speaking of Esau who traded his birthright:

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."*​

It is clear from these usages of anti the primary meaning of the term is instead of, or in place of, consistent with the word for. If one attempts to read any of the foregoing text and in the place of for substitute against, or opposed,the logic is lost. The Son of man did give His life against many, but as a substitute for many, or in the place of many.



Without argument, many times one who takes the place of another does so as an antagonist, or in opposition to him, and so these words which employ the prefix anti which have the meaning of opponent as their primary meaning. An example of this would be the word antidikos[adversary] in texts such as I Peter 5:8:

"Be sober, vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."**​

But, because the bare term anti clearly utilizes the concept of substitution, it would be a mistake to examine the word antichrist without this in mind. Taking this approach, the antichrist is first of all one who seeks to take the place of Christ, to exercise authority instead of Christ. This is a concept with which the rest of the New Testament is entirely familiar, demonstrated by texts such as II Thess. 2:3,4:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."​

The man of sin is described as usurping authority not rightfully belonging to him, attempting to masquerade as God, sitting in the seat of God. It is interesting to note that the word translated oppose in verse 4 is again a compound word, antikeima, meaning one who lies in the place of, or one who lies against. In Rev. 13, the beast power seeks to take the place of God by exhorting worship, something which rightfully belongs only to God, fulfilling the age-old designs of the arch-enemy, whose ambitious aspirations are recorded by the prophet Isaiah;

"Thou (Lucifer) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High."(Isaiah 14:13,14)​

Since Seventh-day Adventists have generally found the fulfillment of these prophetic symbols in the historical papacy, it is interesting to see how this understanding impacts our interpretation. Without question, the papal power has attempted to take the place of Christ by title, by pronouncement, and by practice. The term vicar of Christ is instructive to compare the context. Vicar is of Latin origin, and meansone who takes the place of, or one who acts instead of. We use the adjective vicarious to describe Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. Thus, when the pope identifies himself as the vicar of Christ, to operate in His stead, as His substitute, take note of this strange irony, then. Since both anti and vicar mean the same thing, namely substitute or one who takes the place of, the one from Greek and the other from the Latin, when the pope accepts the title vicar of Christ, he is thereby also accepting the title of anti Christ. Unfortunatly, since most assume that the anti of antichrist means only against, or in opposition to, they are looking for a fulfillment of this prophetic symbol outside the church, while the Bible clearly identifies this power as coming from within. He sits

"in the temple of God (II Thess.2:4)."​

Paul warned the Ephesian elders;

"of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30)."​

John saw in vision Babylon typified as a woman(a church) which sat on a beast.

There is no question that the antichrist of the New Testament is an opponent of the true Christ, whose work is against that of Christ. But it would be a mistake of large proportions, when discussing the term antichrist to not include the concept of substitution, which the prefix anti clearly employs, which clarifies and amplifies the mission and identity of this important prophetic symbol.

*The other usages of anti in the New Testament are as follows:
Matt. 5:38 "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"
Matt. 17:27 "take, and give unto them for me and thee"
Mark 10:45 "and to give His life a ransom for many"
John 1:16 "have all received, and grace for grace"
Rom. 12:17 "recompense to man evil for evil"
I Cor. 11:15 "for (her) hair is given her for a covering"
I Thess. 5:15 "See that none render evil for evil"
Heb. 12:2 "Who for the joy that was set before Him"
James 4:15" for that ye ought to say, If the Lord"
I Peter 3:9 "Not rendering evil for evil"

** Other compound words which employ anti as a prefix include antilambano(see Luke 1:54 and Acts 20:35) translated helped and antilempsis in I Cor. 12:28 translated helpful deeds, and antileptor in Psalm 18:2 translated deliver. While there are other compound words using anti as a prefix in which the notion of against predominates, it is difficult to discern that flavor in the foregoing compound words.

I shall return with more on the end times.

Your brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[TrustAndObey]

I personally think that rather than islam, the one world religion will be pure Satanism!

Well, that's pretty much in line with what we believe.

Jesus said that people were either FOR Him or AGAINST Him (no in between), and that we could only serve one God....so it's either of God or it isn't, so yes.

I don't know about a one world religion though. I know a church that wants to take over everyone's religion that's for sure.

 

[brimac]

Hi Brimac,

Welcome to the SDA forum. From what I have read so far in this thread it would seem that you have many questions. And thats good. However to fully understand the end times andhow they will play out, we first need to see who all the, shall we say, players are. With your premission I'll go to my files and find a starting point that will, I hope, make the whole subject easier to understand.

If you do have specific questions I'll do my best to give you simple, straight answers. I promise you that There will be no question unanswered. So put your thinking cap on and I'll be back shortly.

Respectfully, your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc

sounds good!

 

[thecountrydoc]

Picking up where we left off. In order to show how the other symbols in Rev. relate to each other lets take a quick look at the Beast Symbol of Rev. 13.

THEBEAST SYMBOL OF REVELATION 13

Read the entire chapter. The beast of Rev. 13:1-10 is the beast of verses 17, 18. The symbol represents a power a power as do the beast of Daniel and other chapters of the book of Revelation.
Rev. 13:2, "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
Note this power has an image, a mark, a number. (Rev. 15:2.) The beast succeeds the dragon and receives the dragon's capital city. (Rev. 12:1-6.) The dragon is primarily Satan (verse 9) but secondarily the pagan Roman Empire through which Satan worked in an effort to destroy Christ.

Note these three symbols:

"Dragon"-Rome

"Woman"-The Church (2 Cor. 11:2).

"Manchild"-Christ (Rev. 19:5).

Pagan Rome was succeeded by papal Rome, which received the city as its capital. It is a religious power (see Rev. 13:1). "Blasphemy" is a religious offense (see Johb 10:33 and Luke 5:21). The power to forgive sins belongs to God only. Honor due God is not due man.

666 IS THE NUMBER OF A MAN AND IS IN HIS NAME

One of the titles of the Bishop of Rome is Vicar of the Son of God or in Latin official language, Vicarius Filii Dei. This official name is acknowledged to be one of the titles used by the popes. The letters of the Latin or Roman phrase Vicarius Filii Dei have the numerical value 666.
V– 5___ F– 0
I – 1___ I –1
C –100_ L–50
A –0___ I –1
R –0___ I–1
I–-1
U--5___ D –500
S –0____E–0
_______I–0
Total = 666

The forged Donation of Constine was used for centuries to uphold the papal right to this title:

"Donation of Constantine:

"Sicut B. Petrus in terris vicarius Filii Dei esse videture constitutis, ita et Pontifices, que ipsius principis apoatolorum gerunt vices, principatus potestatem amplius quam terrena imperialis nostrae serenitatis mansuetudo habere videtur, concessam a nobis nostroque imperio."

"As the Blessed Peter is seen to have been constituted vicar of the Son of God on the earth, so pontiffs who are the representatives of that same chief of the apostles, should obtain from us and our empire the power of a supremacy greater that the clemency of our earthly imperial secrenity is seen to have conceded to it."

Source: Donation of Constantine, quoted in Christopher B. Coleman, The Treatise of Lorenzo on the Donation of Constantine, pp. 12, 13. Copyright 1922 Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn. Used by permission. (FRS No. 14.)

I shall return with more.

Resprctfully, your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[thecountrydoc]

Back as promissed.​

THE MARK OF THE BEAST​

"And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here are the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:9-12.

A "Mark" is a religious symbol, because acceptance of it is called worship of the "beast." It is not an outward symbol. If so, it could be forced on those who oppose it. Those who refuse the mark keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; therefore, those who have the mark do not keep them. Those who receive the seal of God are victorious over the mark of the beast; thus the mark involves a violation of the fourth commandment, because the seal of God concerns the Sabbath. (See study on the "Seal of God." That will be next.)

"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:3.

The mark of the beast is received in the forehead or the hand, the forehead implying the center of the mind, the hand the cooperation of expediency. No one has the mark today. It will be received only when, by a national Sunday law, compliance involves a violation of the fourth commandment of the Decalogue.

Note: The lamb-like beast of Rev. 13 causes men to worship the"beast," either the first leopard-like beast or the image of the beast, and a union is formed with parallel purpose between Catholicism and modern Protestantism cooperating together with civil power.

THE PAPACY CLAIMS CHANGE OF REST DAY FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
WAS HER ACT AND IS THE MARK OF HER AUTHORITY IN RELIGIOUS THINGS​

"Question: Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?​

"Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the first day of the week, for observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for there is no Scriptural authority."—A Doctrinal Catechism by The Rev. Stephen Keenan, p.174.​

Of course the Catholic Church claims thar the change was her act,...and is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." (A quotation from a letter written in November, 1895, by Mr. H. F. Thomas, chancellor to Cardinal Gibbons, replying to an inquiry asto whether the Catholic Church claims to have changed the Sabbath.)​

When I return we'll pick up with THE SEAL OF GOD.​

Respectfully, your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc​

 

[thecountrydoc]

Back once more as promissed.

THE SEAL OF GOD​

The servants of God are to be sealed in the last days:

"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor the sea, nor on any tree. And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:1-3 (See Rev. 14:1; Eze. 9:1-6.)

A seal or sign is used with the same meaning in the Bible in connection with laws or legal documents: "So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in the city, dwelling with Naboth." 1 Kings 21:8.

"Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the ling’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to every people and their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring." Es. 3:12.

"Now, O king, establish the decree, anssign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Pewrsians, which altereth not." Dan. 6:8.

Note: An official seal must show three things:
(1) the name of the law-giver;
(2) his official position or title or right to rule;
(3) his kingdom or territory over which he rules.
For instance:
Person’s Name—George Washington
Official Position—President
Extent of Jurisdiction—United States

The seal of God is connected with His law and is found in the fourth commandment.

Ex. 20:8-11, "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
Read all the Ten Commandments. Only in the fourth do we find:
(1) God’ name, "Lord thy God";
(2) His official position, "Creator";
(3) the extent of His domain (heaven and earth).

In Ez. 20 the Bible speaks of the Sabbath as God’s sign (seal):

"Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." "And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." (Ez. 20:12, 20. Also see Ex. 31:13, 17.)

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." Isa. 8:16. Verse 17 shows this message is due when people are looking for the Lord to come.

The Sabbath is a weekly reminder of God as creator, distinguishing Him from all false gods:

"For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens." Ps. 96:5.

Acts 17:24, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Acts 17:24. (See Jer. 10:10-12.)

The same creative power of Christ which makes a new world gives the sinner a new heart:

"Therefor if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [or new creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17. (See Revised Version, margin.)

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10 (See also 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 2:10; Isa. 43:1; Col. 1:13-16.)

The Sabbath is thus the seal of God’s creative and sanctifying power which is exercised through the Holy Spirit:

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved up on the face of the waters." Gen. 1:1,2.

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.

The Passover, a day of special significance in memory of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, was called a sign (or seal) to His people of old:
Ex. 13:3,9,10, "And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten."
"And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thin eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand the Lord hath brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year." (See Ex. 12:14.)
God’s seal is to be placed on the foreheads of His servants before the second coming of Christ:
Rev. 7:3, "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

Compare verses 1 to 4 with Rev. 14:1 and Rev. 15:2, 3. The 144,000 have the seal of God and also have the victory over the mark of the beast.

Well, I'm going to have to take a break. The ol' body needs a little rest. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Respectfully, your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc

 

[SassySDA]

Sassy, I have to go make some lunch (I just realized I haven't eaten today), but I did want to add something real fast.

Scripture says that when Christ returns He will destroy the wicked by the brightness of His coming.

I don't think ANYONE will be "left behind". I think satan will be all alone, with no one to tempt.

Then the wicked are resurrected 1,000 years later. The second resurrection. The resurrection of damnation.

The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished. Rev 20:5

You're absolutely right, I'd forgotten that. One less thing for me to worry about. I'm a worrier, what can I say? I would hate to think of anyone left behind to suffer.