Death Decree Imposed
Death Penalty to those who worship on The Sabbath and disregard Sunday. At this point, Revelation 13:15-17 and Daniel 11:44-45 are fulfilled. Satan personates Christ, probation closes and Jacob's time of trouble begins. Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all both small and great, rich and power, free and bond (Revelation 13:16), shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalities, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God, enjoining the Creator's rest day demands obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts. (GC 604.2) With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God's law to obey human enactment receives the mark of the beast. He accepts the sign of allegiance to power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning from heaven is: If any man worship the beast and his image, and receives his 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. Revelation 14:9-10 (GC 604.3) This is when Adventists will be giving a loud cry message saying do not follow this law, it's going to make you receive the mark of the beast. And if you receive the mark of the beast, you will by all means receive the wrath of God which are the seven last plagues in Revelation 16. Even if the whole world seems against you, with God on your side, you will overcome all these tribulations. As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The Church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in Revelation 1:13-15 The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: Christ has Come! Christ has Come! The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered, he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping the holy Seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes from the least to the greatest, give head to these sorceries, saying: This is the great power of God Acts 8:10 (GC 624.2) And many who have doubts about who to follow will be swept away by this last great deception. But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false Christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshippers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out. (GC 625.1) You should not be deceived because anyone who says that the Sabbath in the Bible was changed from the Saturday to Sunday, we know it is a false christ and prophet. Adventists will be declared outlaws.
The protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honour the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction. As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. (GC 635.1) You should be preparing for the season of distress that is before us because Jesus said in Mathew 24., that probably you can't over-imagine who bad it will be. The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger. A faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all people to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importance of prayer. All who will lay hold of God's promises, as he did. and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. (GC 621.2) Hopefully friends, now you should be laying hold on God's promises, you should be allowing God to strengthen and develop your faith because this is the time of probation we have to prepare for that last great crisis. Now, while our Great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold.., some sinful desire is cherised, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself. The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father's commandments, and there was no sin in Him that satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those who trust in Christ must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble. (623.1) We should seek to become perfect in Christ., by not yielding to the power of temptation such that satan can never gain a foothold in our lives. Just like Jesus Christ who kept His Father's Commandments and there was no sin in Him that satan could use to his advantage. You can never be covered with the Rightenous of Christ as long as there is a sin in your life. Be careful about the theology that says Sanctification will not be complete until Christ returns. Christ is more than ready to head each one of us through that great time of trouble.
