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22/06/2017

MARKED FOR DEATH

Genesis 4:1-15
Adam and Eve’s first two sons differed vastly in their personalities and behavior. Cain longed to farm and build, while Abel loved to roam the hills and meadows with his flocks.
After sin entered this new world because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God established a sacrificial system and explained that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin (Hebrews 9:22). He told them that these sacrifices pointed forward to the time when Jesus would become a man and die as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Abel faithfully brought a young lamb as a sacrifice for his sins, but Cain thought it was unnecessary to obey God’s command so precisely. He considered the sacrificial system to be messy and reasoned that as long as he brought an offering and worshiped God, the details wouldn’t matter. So he brought an offering of his own works—some produce from the field. Cain watched with jealous anger as fire came down from heaven and consumed Abel’s sacrifice but left his own offering untouched. The Lord lovingly urged Cain to humble himself and obey, but Cain stubbornly persisted in his rebellion. Abel also tried to gently reason with his older brother, but Cain flew into a rage. By the time he regained his senses, Abel’s bloody body lay still at his feet. God pronounced a curse upon Cain, and when Cain complained about his sentence, the Lord placed a mark upon him lest future generations take revenge for this first homicide.
The book of Revelation tells us that, in the last days, there will again be a battle between Christians regarding how and when to worship. Soon everyone will be identified either by the seal of God or the mark of the beast.

The Study

Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.
1. Who will be protected through the seven lastplagues? Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have _________________ the servants of our God in their _____________________.

NOTE: Those who receive God’s seal in their foreheads will be protected during the plagues (Psalm 91:7-11).
2. What is this “seal” the righteous have in their foreheads? Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony; seal the ______________ among my disciples.

NOTE: God’s seal is found in His law. A seal is what makes a document official, and it normally contains three characteristics: Name, Office, and Territory. An example would be “Cyrus king of Persia” in Ezra 1:1.
3. Which of the Ten Commandments contains all the elements of a seal? Exodus 20:11 For in six days the _______________ _______________ heaven and earth, the sea, and _______________ that in them is.

NOTE: The fourth commandment is the only one that contains all three elements of a seal: (1) “The Lord”—His name, (2) “made”—His office as Creator, (3) “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is”—His territory.
4. What has God given as a special sign of Hispower? Ezekiel 20:12 I gave them my sabbaths, to be a _______________ between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

Ezekiel 20:20 Hallow my _______________; and they shall be a _______________ between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 31:13 Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a _______________ between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

NOTE: God clearly states that He gave the Sabbath as a sign of His power to create and sanctify. It is His seal, or mark of authority. The words “seal,” “sign,” “mark,” and “token” are used interchangeably throughout the Bible (compare Genesis 17:11 with Romans 4:11 and Revelation 7:3 with Ezekiel 9:4).
5. What does the second beast of Revelation 13force all to receive? Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a ___________ in their right hand, or in their _________________.

6. What is the mark of the beast? Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to ____________ God rather than ____________.

Choosing to obey the laws of the papacy (Sunday) rather than the laws of God (Sabbath) will leave you with the mark of beast.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

What is sin? 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

NOTE: We identified the first beast of Revelation 13 in Lesson 13. What is its mark of power and authority? The best way to discover its mark of authority is to ask the papacy directly. Notice the following section from a Catholic catechism:

“Q. Which is the Sabbath day? “A. Saturday is the Sabbath day. “Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

“A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.”1

Here is another statement from a catechism:

“Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?

“A. 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 observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”2
So the papacy is saying that its mark of power and authority is making Sunday a holy day—a change that virtually the entire Christian world accepts. (See supplement entitled “What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?”) __________________________
1 Peter Geiermann, The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co., 1957 edition), p 50.
2 Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism (New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, third American edition, revised, n.d.), p. 174.

7. Is either the mark of the beast or the seal of God visible? Hebrews 10:16 Saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their _______________, and in their _______________ will I write them.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy _______________ findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a _______________ unto thee upon thine hand, and for a _______________ between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth.

Isaiah 59:6, 7 Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their _______________. … Their _______________ are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

NOTE: Neither the mark of the beast nor the seal of God is outwardly visible. The forehead represents the mind, and the hand is a symbol of work. “On the hand” and “between the eyes” are consistent symbols in Scripture for a person’s thoughts and actions (Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18). A person will receive the mark of the beast in his forehead by choosing to believe that Sunday is a holy day in spite of Bible truth. A person will be marked in the right hand by working on God’s Sabbath or by outwardly keeping Sunday laws for convenient reasons—such as a job, family, etc. Although the sign is invisible to men, God will know who has which mark (2 Timothy 2:19). In a sense, each person will mark himself. If I respect and regard God’s holy Sabbath, He will mark me as His own. If I regard the beast’s false Sabbath, He will mark me as belonging to the beast.
8. How does Jesus determine if we are His servants? Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye _______________.

John 14:15 If ye love me, _______________ my commandments.
9. Does anyone have the mark of the beast now? Revelation 13:17 No man might _______________ or _______________, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

NOTE: No person has the mark now. When it becomes a forced issue, only those who have received the mark of the beast will be able to buy or sell. At that time, people who keep God’s holy Sabbath will do so at the risk of their lives (Revelation 13:15), and those who choose to profane His holy day and officially cast their votes by placing the laws of men above the law of God will be marked as belonging to Antichrist. All who are loyal to Jesus and His holy day will receive Jesus’ glorious seal, thus making them His forever. Those who try to remain neutral will be counted for Antichrist (Matthew 12:30).

10. What two things does the Antichrist power attempt to change? Daniel 7:25 He shall … think to change _______________ and _______________.

NOTE: Daniel 7 reveals an Old Testament description of the Antichrist power. It clearly predicts that the beast would attempt to change both God’s laws and times. The papacy has tried to change God’s laws by: (1) omitting the second commandment against veneration of images, (2) shortening the fourth commandment from 94 words to just eight in order to avoid mentioning which day is the Sabbath, and (3) dividing the tenth commandment into two commandments. The papacy attempted to change God’s times by: (1) teaching people to recognize the first day of the week as the Sabbath instead of the seventh day, and (2) adopting the pagan Roman practice of beginning each day at midnight instead of sundown. God’s timing for the Sabbath is from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 23:32). No mortal should ever dare to tamper with God’s sacred law or times (Matthew 5:18).

11. What was God’s criticism of His ancient priests, or pastors? Malachi 2:8, 9 Ye have caused many to stumble at the _______________. … Ye have not kept my ways, but have been _______________ in the law.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast _______________ the _______________ of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

NOTE: God is still hurt when His pastors are partial to eight or nine commandments and cause many to stumble over His command to keep the Sabbath holy. Virtually all churches admit in their official writings that there is no Scripture support for Sunday sacredness. Tragically, both Protestantism and Catholicism stand guilty before the judgment bar of God for throwing out the Bible Sabbath! God Himself gave the Sabbath as a sign, or mark, of His power to create and His power to sanctify and save (Exodus 31:17; Ezekiel 20:12). Dare any man tamper with this sacred sign, which represents the great God of heaven and all that He stands for?

12. How did God’s ancient leaders regard the great things of His law? Hosea 8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a _______________ thing.

NOTE: Times have not changed. God has placed the Sabbath, His great sign, in the middle of His law and begins that commandment with the word “remember.” Yet many people today feel that keeping His seventh-day Sabbath is a strange thing.

13. What specific, solemn rebuke did God give to religious leaders regarding His holy Sabbath?
Ezekiel 22:8 Thou hast __________________ mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put _______ ___________________ between the holy and profane … and have _______________ their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

NOTE: God pointedly rebukes religious leaders who say that the Sabbath doesn’t matter and who claim “Thus saith the Lord” when it is not true.

14. What specific sin does God command His leaders to denounce? Isaiah 58:1, 13, 14 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and _______________ my people their transgression. … If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy _______________ on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a _______________, the holy of the Lord honourable; … Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.

NOTE: God charges spiritual leaders to call Sabbath-breaking a sin and to insist that His people keep His Sabbath day holy. As with the disciples of old, our only safety is in obeying God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

15. When you decide to accept Jesus and fully follow Him, what happens? Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find _______________ unto your _______________.

NOTE: Glorious rest and peace enter your heart at conversion. The Sabbath, which means “rest,” is a symbol of the rest and peace that comes from the new birth (Hebrews 4:1-10). Those who are truly born again will keep the Sabbath as a blessed sign of that rest (notice verses 4, 9, 10). There is no joy like the joy that comes to a converted person who keeps God’s Sabbath holy.

Your Response
Before you can say “no” to the mark of the beast, you must say “yes” to the seal of God. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart for an answer. Will you decide now to move under His glorious Sabbath banner as evidence that you have accepted Him as your Creator and Saviour?
ANSWER: _______________

Supplement
This section provides additional information for further study.

What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?
Protestants have repeatedly asked the papacy, “How could you dare to change God’s law?” But the question posed to Protestants by the Catholic Church is even more penetrating.

Here it is officially:
“You will tell me that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, but that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday. Changed! but by whom? Who has authority to change an express commandment of Almighty God? When God has spoken and said, Thou shalt keep holy the seventh day, who shall dare to say, Nay, thou mayest work and do all manner of worldly business on the seventh day; but thou shalt keep holy the first day in its stead? This is a most important question, which I know not how you can answer. You are a Protestant, and you profess to go by the Bible and the Bible only; and yet in so important a matter as the observance of one day in seven as a holy day, you go against the plain letter of the Bible, and put another day in the place of that day which the Bible has commanded. The command to keep holy the seventh day is one of the ten commandments; you believe that the other nine are still binding; who gave you authority to tamper with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own principles, if you really follow the Bible and the Bible only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of the New Testament in which this fourth commandment is expressly altered.”1 ______________________________
1 Library of Christian Doctrine: Why Don’t You Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day? (London: Burns and Oates, Ltd.), pp. 3, 4.

22/06/2017

BOWING TO THE BEAST

Daniel 3:1-30

King Nebuchadnezzar gave the signal, and as the music from a thousand instruments began to swell, the curtain fell, exposing a dazzling, 90-foot image of gold glimmering in the sunlight. Then, according to King’s command, all the officials who had gathered on the plain of Dura fell prostrate to the ground in devout worship. All bowed down except three young Hebrew men, who were servants of a greater King.
Nebuchadnezzar was beaming with pride and satisfaction—until it was reported that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had refused to bow and worship his image. Astonished that anyone would dare to disobey, Nebuchadnezzar assumed these young advisers must have misunderstood his decree. So he offered them one more chance to bow down—but they refused! Now the king’s expression turned to rage. He ordered his soldiers to heat the nearby furnace seven times hotter than normal. As fuel was piled onto the fire, the three men were firmly tied with ropes. The resulting heat was so intense that it killed the soldiers who threw them into the blazing inferno.
As the king peered into the roaring furnace, his mouth suddenly fell open. With a trembling voice he asked, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” His counselors agreed that they had. Then the king said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25.
God delivered those brave young men in the fiery furnace because they stood up for His truth. In the last days, God’s people will have to face a similar test.

The Study

Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.

1. How does our story in Daniel 3 relate to Revelation? Revelation 13:15 As many as would not _______________ the _______________ of the beast should be killed.

NOTE: In the last days, God’s people will be forced once again to worship contrary to conscience or be slain. They will have to choose between obeying the law of God or the laws of man.
2. What are the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14? Revelation 14:7 Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his ________________________ is _______________: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, _____________________ is _______________, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Revelation 14:9, 10 If any man __________________ the __________________ 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.

NOTE: The Bible tells us in Revelation 14:6-14 that in the last days, this awesome three- point message of hope and warning will go to the entire world to prepare people for Jesus’ return. One of these messages warns against worshipping the beast and receiving its mark. In this lesson, we will identify the beast. In Lesson 14, we will identify the mark. Eternal life itself may be at stake, so pray earnestly for God’s guidance and understanding as you study.
3. What does a beast represent in Bible prophecies? Daniel 7:17 These great _________________, which are four, are four ____________________.

Daniel 7:23 The fourth beast shall be the fourth _______________ upon earth.

Daniel 8:21 And the rough goat is the ________________ of Grecia.

NOTE: In Bible prophecy, a beast represents a government, kingdom, or political power. God uses beasts to symbolize governments, as we do today—an eagle (the United States of America), a bear (Russia), etc. In the Bible, “beast” is not a disrespectful term. It does not suggest beastly characteristics. The beast that has the mark is pictured in Revelation 13:1- 10, 15-18. Please take time to read these verses before proceeding to Question 4.

4. How does the Bible identify the beast?
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a _________________ 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.

NOTE: In Revelation 13:1-10, 15-18, God gives 10 clues to help us identify the beast. He gives us a long list of characteristics so that we can be absolutely certain of the beast’s identity.

Point 1 - Rises up out of the sea (verse 1)
Point 2 - Receives its power, seat, and authority from the dragon (verse 2)
Point 3 - Becomes a worldwide power (verses 3, 7)
Point 4 - Is guilty of blasphemy (verses 1, 5, 6)
Point 5 - Rules for 42 prophetic months (verse 5)
Point 6 - Receives a deadly wound that heals (verse 3)
Point 7 - Is a religious power that receives worship (verses 4, 8)
Point 8 - Persecutes God’s saints (verse 7)
Point 9 - Has the mysterious number 666 (verse 18) Point 10 - Is led by one supreme man (verse 18)

Only one power fits all 10 of these identifying marks—the papacy. But in order to be certain, we will carefully consider them one at a time, beginning with Question 5.
5. This beast arises from the sea. What does the sea, or water, symbolize? Revelation 17:15 The ______________ which thou sawest … are _______________, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

NOTE: In prophecy, water represents great multitudes of people, or heavily populated areas. Prophecy predicted that the beast would arise from amid the established nations of the then- known world. The papacy arose in western Europe, so it fits Point 1. But what about the other nine identifying points?
6. Who gives the beast its power and position? Revelation 13:2 And the _______________ gave him his _______________, and his _______________, and great authority.

NOTE: The beast—which has a mark that we must avoid—obtained its power, authority, and capital city from the dragon. According to Revelation 12:3-5, the dragon is the power that sought to destroy the child Jesus at the time of His birth. It was Satan who inspired Herod, a king for the pagan Roman Empire, to slay all the male babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13, 16). To whom did pagan Rome give her authority and capital city? History is clear that pagan Rome turned over its power and capital city to the church of Rome. The following historical quote is typical: “The Roman church … pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation. … The Pope, who calls himself ‘King’ and ‘Pontifex Maximus,’ is Caesar’s successor.”1 So Point 2 fits the papacy, as well.
1 Adolph Harnack, What Is Christianity? (New York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), p. 270.

7. How far-reaching is the influence of the beast? Revelation 13:3 And _________ the _________________ wondered after the beast.

NOTE: No one would question that during the Middle Ages, the papacy was indeed a worldwide power. In fact, the word “catholic” means “universal.” We can see that Point 3 also fits the papacy.
8. What comes out of the mouth of the beast?
Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in ___________________ against God, to __________________ his name.

NOTE: The Bible defines blasphemy as man claiming to forgive sins (Luke 5:21) and claiming to be God (John 10:33). The papacy boldly claims the power to forgive sins. Notice the following section from a Catholic catechism: “Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”1 The papacy also claims that the pope is equal with God. Pope Leo XIII said, “We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”2 Here is another startling statement about the pope: “Thou art another God on earth.”3 So Point 4 also fits the papacy.
1 Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279.
2 Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), manuscript SC, Vol. 32, col. 761 (Latin).
3 Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter “The Reunion of Christendom,” dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 304.

9. How long would this first beast rule?
Revelation 13:5 And power was given unto him to continue ______________ and _________ months.

NOTE: Remember that in prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6). This time period is repeatedly referred to in prophecy as three and a half years, 42 months, or 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, all three time periods total the same 1,260 prophetic days, or 1,260 literal years. The worldwide power of papal Rome became official in A.D. 538, when Emperor Justinian’s decree making the papacy supreme was no longer opposed. The papacy was dealt what appeared to be a death blow in 1798 when the pope was captured by Napoleon’s general, Alexander Berthier. You will notice that the time period between A.D. 538 and 1798 is precisely 1,260 years. Point 5 also fits the papacy.

10. What happened to the beast after the 42 months? Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly _______________ was _______________: and all the world wondered after the beast.

NOTE: As already mentioned, the papacy received what appeared to be a deadly wound in 1798 when General Berthier took the pope captive to France, where he died in exile.1 Half of Europe thought that this event signaled the end of the papacy, but God had said that the wound would be healed and that the papacy’s power and influence would be restored until the entire world would follow her leading. Malachi Martin, consummate Vatican insider, reveals the following in his book The Keys of This Blood: “The pope is the best-known person of the 20th century (p. 123), has formed personal relationships with the leaders of 91 countries (p. 490), and is prepared for worldwide rule now” (p. 143).2 Even a novice would recognize that today the papacy is, in many ways, the most influential power on earth. And with each trip the pope makes, his power and influence grow. Multiplied millions worldwide look to the papacy as the only hope for world unity, peace, and decency—precisely as God predicted. The papacy clearly fits Point 6.
1 Joseph Rickaby, “The Modern Papacy,” Lectures on the History of Religion, (London: Catholic Truth Society, 1910), Vol. 3, Lecture 24, p. 1.
2 Malachi Martin, The Keys of This Blood (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990).

11. Is the beast a religious power? Revelation 13:15 And cause that as many as would not _________________ the image of the beast should be killed.

NOTE: It is obvious that this entity would be involved in spiritual matters. The words “worship” or “worshiped” are used five times in Revelation 13 in reference to this power. Surely no one doubts that the papacy fits Point 7.

12. What does the beast do to the saints?
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make _______________ with the saints, and to ____________________ them.

NOTE: It is common knowledge that the papacy did persecute and destroy conscientious Christians, especially during the Middle Ages, the peak period of its control. Many historians say that more than 50 million people died for their faith during this period of great tribulation. Apparently the church felt it was doing God a favor by stamping out “heresy.” The pope has asked that the church be forgiven for its atrocities, but the fact remains that it did persecute and destroy. The papacy fits Point 8 also.

13. What is the mysterious number that identifies the beast? Revelation 13:18 His number is _________ hundred threescore and _________.

NOTE: In Revelation 13:18, God says to count the number of the beast’s name and that it is the number of a man. When we think of the papacy, the man we naturally think of is the pope. What is his name? One of the pope’s official titles is “Vicar of the Son of God,” which is “Vicarious Filii Dei” in Latin (the official language of the church). Newspaper articles, when referring to the pope as “Vicar of Christ,” will often enclose the words in quotation marks to show that they are a translation of his title, or name. The book of Revelation is saying that the Roman numeral value of the letters of his name will equal 666. Let’s see whether or not Point 9 fits the papacy:

Traditional Title of the Pope: VICARIUS FILII DEI
Latin for: Vicar of the Son of God

V = 5
I = 1
C = 100
A = 0
R = 0
I = 1
U = 5
S = 0
112

F = 0
I = 1
L = 50
I = 1
I = 1
53

D = 500
E = 0
I = 1
501

112
53
+ 501
TOTAL= 666

1. Roman numeral Equivalent
2. Originally, U and V were the same letter

There should be no doubt remaining. We have shown that all 10 characteristics portrayed in Revelation 13:1-8, 15-18 fit the papacy. And this power has a specific mark that we dare not receive. Now please note that there are many godly, loving Roman Catholic Christians whom God counts as His children. There have also been many gracious and courageous popes who loved God. This lesson is not an attack upon our Catholic friends.
It is an attack upon the devil, who lures churches away from scriptural truth. However, God Himself has told us that this institution has a mark we dare not receive. Sincere Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and non-Christians will all be eager to discover what this mark is so they can avoid receiving it. Let’s thank God that in His Word He has exposed Satan’s ugly plans to destroy us all. In our next lesson, we will clearly identify the “mark” of the beast. If you receive the mark of the beast, you will be lost. Many will discover that avoiding the mark will involve a tremendous struggle. But God can give us the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were willing to face death in order to honor God.

Your Response
Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads, even though you may lose your friends? ANSWER: _______________

22/06/2017

THE REST OF OUR WORK

Prayerfully study this all important lesson

Exodus 4:29-5:19 Before Moses approached the king of Egypt to seek freedom for the children
of Israel, he and his brother, Aaron, met with the oppressed leaders of Israel. During this meeting, Moses and Aaron encouraged the people to consecrate themselves to the Lord and told them God was about to deliver them from slavery with a mighty hand.

The Israelites had been laboring seven days a week to maintain their heavy workload for the Egyptians. But after this meeting with Moses, they apparently decided to begin resting again every seventh day. This is why the furious Pharaoh later said to Moses and Aaron: “Ye make them rest from their burdens.” Exodus 5:5. (The Hebrew word for “rest” used here is “shabath.” It means “to cause to keep sabbath.”) The angry king knew that he must do something drastic to hold this nation of slaves under his control, so he decided to drown them with work and crowd both God and worship from their thoughts. He said, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish it.” Exodus 5:7, 8, NKJV.*

As in the days of Moses, God is about to do great things for His people. Soon they will be delivered from the slavery of sin and journey to the heavenly Canaan. And once again, God is now trying to turn the minds of His people toward the importance of the Sabbath rest.

* The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (c) 1979, 1980, 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

The Study

Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.
1. Did God make the Sabbath rest only for Israelites? Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was _______________ for _______________, and not man for the sabbath.

NOTE: When Jesus says that the Sabbath was made for man, the word “man” means all “mankind”—for all people, for all time, in every place.

2. When did God establish the Sabbath?
Genesis 2:1,3 Thus the heavens and the earth were _______________, and all the host of them. … And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

NOTE: The Sabbath was established at the close of Creation week.

3. What day of the week is the Sabbath?
Genesis 2:2,3 And on the ___________________ _______________ God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the ________________ _______________ from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the ____________________ _______________, and sanctified it.

NOTE: Three times in Genesis chapter 2, God tells us that He made the Sabbath from the seventh day of Creation week. He also “sanctified” it, which means “to set aside for a holy use.” God made the Sabbath as a 24-hour period of time, because time is what it takes to develop a true love relationship with Jesus. The devil, like Pharaoh of Egypt, wants to keep us so busy working that we don’t think about God. Knowing how overly busy end-time people would be, God set aside 24 special hours weekly to spend with His people, getting acquainted. He has made that weekly appointment with you. Don’t fail to meet Him!
4. How has God demonstrated the importance of His holy Sabbath? Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to _______________ it holy. … The Lord _________________ the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

NOTE: Exodus 20:8-11 is the fourth commandment of God’s law. By making the Sabbath one of His Ten Commandments, He demonstrated its extreme importance. Verse 10 calls it “the sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Only the fourth commandment begins with the word “remember,” indicating God knew that people would forget. Breaking God’s Ten Commandment law is sin (1 John 3:4). But Jesus died to save His people from their sins, or law-breaking (Matthew 1:21).
5. Of what two precious things does God say the Sabbath is a sign? Exodus 31:17 It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the _______________ _______________ heaven and earth.

Ezekiel 20:12 I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that ___________________ them.

NOTE: God says the Sabbath is a sign, or mark, of His power as Creator and Redeemer. In Revelation 14:6-14, God gives three important messages that are to be proclaimed to “them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Verse 6. The first message is found in verse 7: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” This appeal for a return to true worship is drawn right from the fourth commandment: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” Exodus 20:11.

6. Which day did Jesus keep holy? Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as ___________ __________________ was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

NOTE: Jesus is our example (1 Peter 2:21) in everything, including Sabbathkeeping, which was His custom. A “custom” is a regular habit. Christians are to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).

7. What was Paul’s custom regarding the Sabbath? Acts 17:2 And Paul, as _______________ _______________ was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scripture.

Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue _______________ _______________, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

NOTE: It was also Paul’s custom to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.
8. Did the apostles also meet with the Gentiles on the Sabbath? Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the _________________ besought that these words might be preached to them the next __________________.

NOTE: On another occasion, the disciples met on the Sabbath with a group of Gentile women by the riverside, because the city had no synagogue (Acts 16:13).
9. Did Jesus intend for His people to keep the Sabbath after He died for their sins? Matthew
24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the ______________________ day.

NOTE: Jesus was here predicting the fall of Jerusalem, which He knew would take place in A.D. 70 (about 40 years later). But He suggested they pray that they would not have to flee from the invading army on the Sabbath. It is clear that Jesus expected His people to be keeping the Sabbath holy long after His death.

10. Does the Bible teach that God’s end-time people would also keep His seventh-day Sabbath holy? Revelation 12:17 And the dragon [devil] was wroth with the woman [church], and went to make war with the remnant [remainder] of her seed [children], which _______________ the _________________________ of God.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that _______________ the _______________ of God.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that _______________ his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may _______________ in through the gates into the city.

NOTE: The above Scriptures obviously refer to God’s end-time church, and each passage states plainly that God’s end-time church keeps His commandments—which, of course, include the fourth commandment, the Sabbath.

11. Will all of the saved in heaven keep the Sabbath? Isaiah 66:22,23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that … from one sabbath to another, shall ___________ ___________________ come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

NOTE: The Bible says that all the redeemed of all ages will keep God’s Sabbath together in heaven and in the new earth.

12. Can we be certain that the present seventhday of the week(Saturday) is the same Sabbath day that Jesus kept holy? Luke 23:54-24:1 And that day was the preparation [Friday], and the sabbath drew on. … And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and _______________ the _______________ day according to the commandment. Now upon the _______________ _______________ of the week, … they came unto the sepulchre.

NOTE: Jesus was crucified on Friday (preparation), the day before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42). Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath of the commandment (Luke 23:56), then rose on the first day—the day after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1-6). Christians around the world still celebrate that day as Easter Sunday. The Bible clearly shows that the Sabbath was the day after Friday and the day before Sunday. It’s easy to locate that day of the week on any calendar. (See supplements entitled “What the Dictionary Says” and “Hasn’t the Calendar Been Changed?”)

13. Does God allow anyone to change His holy day? Proverbs 30:5,6 Every word of God is pure: … _______________ thou _______________ unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

NOTE: Just before God gave the Ten Commandments, as described in Deuteronomy chapter 5, He solemnly warned that no one should “add unto” or “diminish ought from” them (Deuteronomy 4:2). Rather, they were to be kept precisely as He gave them. God blessed His Sabbath (Exodus 20:11), and when He blesses something, it is blessed forever (1 Chronicles 17:27). God says, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalm 89:34. Misguided men admit that they changed God’s holy Sabbath to Sunday. But God will not accept men’s teachings when He gave the Bible as our guide.

14. When does the Sabbath begin and end?
Leviticus 23:32 From _______________ unto _______________, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Mark 1:32 And at even, when the _______________ did _______________.

NOTE: The Sabbath hours begin at sundown Friday and close at sundown Saturday.

15. What day is the Lord’s day of Revelation 1:10? Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the _______________ thy God.

Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on __________ _______________ _______________.

Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the _______________.

NOTE: In both the Old and New Testaments, God calls the Sabbath the Lord’s day. He also commands that people be warned against committing the sin of trampling God’s Sabbath (Isaiah 58:1, 13). God declares that His holy Sabbath is for all people (Isaiah 56:2-7). The Bible never refers to Sunday as the Lord’s day. It is simply one of the six working days of the week (Ezekiel 46:1). That’s all it has ever been.

16. What blessing is promised by the Sabbath commandment? Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you _______________.

Exodus 33:14 My _______________ shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Hebrews 4:5 If they shall enter into ___________ _______________.

NOTE: Each one of the Ten Commandments has a spiritual meaning. Some legalistic Christians focus on the letter of the law and neglect the spirit of the law. Jesus wants us to have both to maintain balance (Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28). The Bible often uses the term “rest” to refer to salvation. Hebrews 4:1, 4, 9, 10 says that those who have truly been led to the “rest” of conversion and who abide in Christ will keep the seventh-day Sabbath as a symbol of the Christian rest.

Your Response
Because Jesus has given the Sabbath as a sign of His power to create and sanctify, would you like to begin receiving the blessings of this holy day by keeping it in His honor?
ANSWER: _______________

Supplement
This section provides additional information for further study.

What the Dictionary Says

Look up the following entries in almost any dictionary, and notice what you’ll find:
Saturday (noun) The seventh and last day of the week. seventh-day (adjective) Of the seventh day (Saturday).
Sunday (noun) The first day of the week. First day (noun) Sunday.

Hasn’t the Calendar Been Changed?

The calendar was changed once in October 1582, but it did not alter the weekly cycle. Ten dates were omitted from the calendar following October 4, 1582. What would have been Friday, October 5, became Friday, October 15. The diagram below will help you to visualize the change. You will see that it did not change the order of the days of the week.

OCTOBER
1582 Calendar

Sun. 17 24 31
Mon. 1 18 25
Tue. 2 19 26
Wed. 3 20 27
Thu. 4 21 28
Fri. 15 22 29
Sat. 16 23 30

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