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VI.
The Sure Word of
Prophecy
»
Chapter 58
:
The Closing Gospel Message
1. WHAT indicates that the messages of the
judgment-hour and the fall of Babylon are two
parts of a threefold message?
"And the third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice." Rev. 14:9, first
clause.
2. What apostasy from the
worship of God is named in this message?
"If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his
mark
in his
forehead, or in his hand." Same verse, last
part.
3.
What is to be the fate of those who, instead of
worshiping God, engage in this false worship?
"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 forever 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." Verses 10,11.
See Isa. 33:13-17; 34:1-10; 1 Cor. 3:13; Heb. 12:29.
4. How are those described who
heed this warning?
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of, God, and the faith
of Jesus." Verse 12.
5. What description is given of
the beast against whose worship this closing warning
message is given?
"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. And the beast which I
saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as 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." Rev. 13:1,2.
NOTE.-In this composite beast from the sea are
combined the symbols of the seventh chapter of
Daniel, representing Greece, Medo-Persia, and
Babylon. The blasphemous words spoken by it, its
persecution of the saints, and the time allotted to
it (verses 5-7) show that this beast, under one of
its seven-headed manifestations, is identical with
the little horn of the vision of the seventh chapter
of Daniel, modern Babylon, the Papacy. See reading
on "The Kingdom and Work of Antichrist," page 218.
The false worship here mentioned, the worship of the
beast, is the rendering of that homage to the Papacy
which is due to God alone. The system of religion
enforced by the Papacy is the paganism of Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, indicated by the
composite character of the beast (verse 2),
disguised under the forms and names of Christianity.
The Pontifex Maximus of the ancient pagan religions
was continued in the Pope, who is the head of the
Roman priesthood, and who, in the exercise of his
priestly functions, took away the mediation of
Christ, and substituted a system of human mediation
in its place, thus fulfilling the prophecy recorded
in the eighth chapter of Daniel. See reading on "The
Vicar of Christ," Chapter 52 of this book.
6.
What challenge is made by those who worship the beast?
"And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the
beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
Verse 4.
7.
Whose sovereignty is thus challenged?
"Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O
Lord; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in
might." Jer. 10:6. See also Ps. 71:19; 86:8; 89:6,8.
8.
What specifications of "the man of sin" are thus fully
met?
"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 worshiped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God." 2 Thess. 2:3,4. See Chapter 51 of this book.
9.
What did Babylon give to the nations to drink?
"She made
all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication." Rev. 14:8, last part, See Chapter 57
of this book.
10. What are those to drink who accept the teachings of
Babylon, and thus render homage to the beast?
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the
cup of His indignation." Verse 10, first part.
NOTE.-The cup of the Lord, which contains the new
covenant in the blood of Christ, and the cup of the
wine of the wrath of Babylon are both offered to the
world. To drink of the former, that is, to accept
the teaching of the true gospel, is to receive
everlasting life; but to drink of the wine of
Babylon, that is, to accept the false gospel taught
by the Papacy, will result in drinking of the wine
of the wrath of God from the cup of His indignation.
The true gospel means everlasting life; the false
gospel means everlasting death.
11. Under what threatened penalty is the worship of the
image of the beast enforced?
"And he
had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that
the image of the beast should both speak, and cause
[decree] that as many as would not worship the image of
the beast should be killed." Rev. 13:15.
NOTE.-For an explanation of the image of the beast,
see reading on "Making an Image to the Beast,"
Chapter 61 of this book.
12. What universal boycott is to be employed, in an
attempt to compel all to receive the mark of the beast?
"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: 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." Verses 16,17.
NOTE.-Regarding the mark of the beast, see reading
on "The Seal of God and the Mark of Apostasy,"
Chapter 98 of this book.
13. Who is the real power operating through the beast
and his image, and demanding worship?
"The dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and
great authority." Verse 2, last part.
14. Who is this dragon?
"And the
great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the
Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him." Rev. 12:9.
15. How did the devil seek to induce Jesus to worship
him?
"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain,
showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this
power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for
that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I
give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall
be Thine." Luke 4:5-7.
16. How did Jesus show His loyalty to God?
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee
behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."
Verse 8.
NOTE.-The threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12 is
proclaimed in connection with the closing scenes of
the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
Lucifer has sought to put himself in the place of
God (Isa. 14:12-14), and to secure to himself the
worship which is due God alone. The final test comes
over the commandments of God. Those who acknowledge
the supremacy of the beast by yielding obedience to
the law of God as changed and enforced by the
Papacy, when the real issue has been clearly
defined, will, in so doing, worship the beast and
his image, and receive his mark. Such will take the
side of Satan in his rebellion against the authority
of God.
17. How many will yield to the
demand to worship the beast?
"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.
18. In the judgment-hour message, whom are all called
upon to fear, glorify, and worship?
"Saying with a loud voice, 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." Rev. 14:7.
19. Who will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb on the
sea of glass?
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:
and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,
and over his image, and over his mark, and over the
number of his name, stand on the sea of glass,
having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses
the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who
shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for
Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and
worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made
manifest." Rev. 15:2-4. |
