Sunday Law--fact or fiction???

[True-believer]

Hello everyone,

I can see the Biblical sense for a Sunday Law, but it looks so unreal in todays world.

In Australia--we will never have a National Day of Rest--I can not see it happening.

In Australia people love work so much that we trade a full seven days each and every week.

Australia will never endorse a day of rest, the people here will not accept it--they love working too much.

That's not to say I don't want one.

I do want a National Day of Rest on the seventh day--God's Holy Sabbath Day and not Sunday which is the complete opposite.

Sunday must be the Mark of the beast.

Sabbath--7th day--we're sealed by the Holy Spirit--This is the seal of God for the true believers.

[Kountzer]

People quite often have a hard time believing truth, especially present truth. Those in Noah's time couldn't believe it was going to rain, much less flood. The egyptians had a hard time dealing with the plagues, and the fact that the red sea split in two, but it happened. People in these days have a hard time accepting the idea of a national sunday law.

Dispite the fact that there are all sorts of powerful, and influential religious thought leaders working behind the scenes to make it happen. There's the Pope's encyclical Dies Domini where he states that as goes the sabbath(he calls sunday the sabbath)so goes a nation. So he links national crime to the lack of national disregard for sunday as a worship day. Among protestants Pat Roberts wrote a book basically stating the same thing. The late D James Kennedy was at the fore front for advocating a national sunday day of rest.

Then you have to factor in calamities, tsunamis, wars (where's this gaza thing going?), social unrest, wild fires, earthquakes. After 9/11 our rights were greatly eroded in the name of fighting terrorism. Only recently I read where someone in the UK was lamenting the fact that the police authories there have the right and ability to hack into anyone's computer and do whatever in the name of security.

There's more that can be said, and I'm sure someone will add more. I believe a national, and worldwide day of rest is quite possible. besides bible prophecy says it will happen. Nuff said.

DB

[Bravus]

We had a longish thread on this fairly recently - will see if I can dig it up for you.

[Bravus]

Yeah, here 'tis: http://adventistforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/205828/Sunday_Laws.html#Post205828

[guibox]

At the moment, I have become a bit of a skeptic on SDA eschaeology in relation to Sunday laws as a fulfillment of Revelation 13 in this day and age, and here are my reasons:

1) There is no way that a universal Sunday law is going to be implemented in communist/atheistic and Islamic nations around the world on a cooperative basis.

2) Things have never gone in that direction no matter how bad ethics, morality,society, war, famine or calamity has gone. Not even on a local level (like WWII, 9/11, the Indonesian tsunami etc)

3) North America is not really a Christian nation when you get right down to it. Our ethics, our government, our commerce are all run by secularist principles and not on a theological basis.

A Sunday law is just not logical in today's mindset.

I agree with Marvin Moore's 'The Coming Great Calamity'. The only way in today's age that something like a universal Sunday law being enforced can happen, where people are losing their lives by governmental decree is if something so awful happens that the entire paradigm of the world shifts. I'm talking meteor showers that wipe out countries and nuclear holocaust.

It would need to take a monumental change of attitude (I'm talking from the technological age to the midieval way of thinking) for people to think that going back to God can only achieved by forcing religion to avoid further 'doomsday' scenarios (i.e, God is punishing us, we need to get back to him).

I'm sorry, but I just don't see it happening in our lifetime.

[Nan]

I would be very careful in writing off these prophecies.

The current world financial situation could easily lead to the paradigm shift you are talking about, especialy if coupled with major natural disasters. It may not, but it does not require much imagination to see how it could. Add this to the current respect in which the Papacy is held, and its stated desires to

make Sunday observance more marked - there is plenty going on out there.

I do think we need to be careful about extrapolating details of prophecy fulfilment when we are given only broad outlines.

Remember that Jesus said about the prophecies He made "When it comes to pass, you may believe". I think we

have been given enough information to cope with whatever is coming - assuming that knowledge is accompanied by a solid relationship with and trust in our Saviour.

[Woody]

At the moment, I have become a bit of a skeptic on SDA eschaeology in relation to Sunday laws as a fulfillment of Revelation 13 in this day and age, and here are my reasons:

1) There is no way that a universal Sunday law is going to be implemented in communist/atheistic and Islamic nations around the world on a cooperative basis.

2) Things have never gone in that direction no matter how bad ethics, morality,society, war, famine or calamity has gone. Not even on a local level (like WWII, 9/11, the Indonesian tsunami etc)

3) North America is not really a Christian nation when you get right down to it. Our ethics, our government, our commerce are all run by secularist principles and not on a theological basis.

A Sunday law is just not logical in today's mindset.

I agree with Marvin Moore's 'The Coming Great Calamity'. The only way in today's age that something like a universal Sunday law being enforced can happen, where people are losing their lives by governmental decree is if something so awful happens that the entire paradigm of the world shifts. I'm talking meteor showers that wipe out countries and nuclear holocaust.

It would need to take a monumental change of attitude (I'm talking from the technological age to the midieval way of thinking) for people to think that going back to God can only achieved by forcing religion to avoid further 'doomsday' scenarios (i.e, God is punishing us, we need to get back to him).

I'm sorry, but I just don't see it happening in our lifetime.

It may or may not happen in our lifetime. But the bottom line is that it really doesn't matter. We need to and must be ready NOW.

[nuff sed]

The fact that a Sunday Law is just not logical is no reason to think that it will not happen. As far as it not happening in our lifetime I am afraid that I agree with you as far as that concerns.

[BSW]

"Marvelous in her shrewdness and cunning is the Roman Church. She can read what is to be. She bides her time, seeing that the Protestant churches are paying her homage in their acceptance of the false sabbath and that they are preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come to the help of Protestants in this work it is not difficult to conjecture. Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those who are disobedient to the church? {GC 580.1}

The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests. {GC 580.2}"

Don't underestimate the power of the devil. He longs to destroy those that will perfectly reproduce the character of Christ. Remember it was His character that offended the "church", not His doctrine. I am one that believes that it is the character of the church that will usher in the second comming, not so much her doctrine.

"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {COL 69.1}

It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain. {COL 69.2}"

Share His love, love to share Him, then we go home!!

[John317]

I agree with you, BSW, especially your words, "He [the devil] longs to destroy those that will perfectly reproduce the character of Christ. Remember it was His character that offended the 'church', not His doctrine. I am one that believes that it is the character of the church that will usher in the second comming, not so much her doctrine."

I believe our doctrines are important but even more important is how we reflect Christ in our life, and that's really what Jesus is looking for in His church. Doctrine, however, plays in important part in helping people reflect Jesus. For instance, if my beliefs lead me to think that I can continue living in sin, it obviously is not going to help me fulfill God's plan.

[jasd]

>>It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin).<< [ed.jasd]

2 Pet 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ...

Has the author taken liberties with the text?

[BSW]

I look at prophecy as first proof that there is a God in Heaven and His love for His people, and second as landmarks. As we near the second coming of our Savior, we will note the seperation of "spirits". Jesus will once again manifest His Spirit fully in His people and the devil will manifest his spirit in his people. The first will understand the concept of the character that is needed for life eternal while the latter will only understand the concept of carnal security, or self preservation. The carnally secure will of course hate those that do not manifest their spirit, while those in Christ will still strive to win them to Christ.

As one that knows that I can live as Christ spiritually in this fallen body, I have noted that I am no longer enjoyed as a friend by many past "friends", however, the peace that I recieve from my newly formed character more than makes up for any losses no matter how disappointing, notwithstanding my desire to help those I have lost to completely give themselves as well to a life hid in Christ.

I long for the landmarks that show me that our Savior is true to his word through the word given us in Scripture as well as expounded on in the SOP. May we all strive for the mastery which is in Christ Jesus, then the end surely will come, and will not tarry and we will be with Jesus never again to be seperated.

Also just to get back on track here the thought once again that the devil cannot conform those under his power to pass (even global) legislation that will force one to comply to a National or Global Sunday law is dangerous, in my opinion.

Peace.

[jasd]

>>...the mark of the beast will be in the

forehead and the hand...

forehead is the spiritual part

the hand is the agreement part

the spiritual part is for people that want the sunday law

as a spiritual solution<<

St Luke, in Acts 17:29, utilized “graven” rather than “mark”; whereas, you’ve ‘spiritualized’ the applicable term charagma. Perhaps,

you’d like to expand upon the legitimacy of such a construct – in other words, mebbe, you’d like to provide the metaphoric use – its flesh and bones, so to speak... :-)

[John317]

>>It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin).<< [ed.jasd]

2 Pet 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ...

Has the author taken liberties with the text?

"hasting unto" means to "hurry" or "hasten". The preposition "unto" is added and does not occur in the original Greek.

The Greek word may also be translated as "earnestly desiring," but the vast majority of translations read "hasten," including the NASB and others as seen here.

(New American Standard Bible)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(New King James Version)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(English Standard Version)

12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God

New International Version

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming

(Darby Translation)

12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God

[BSW]

Just found this little tidbit.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - From November 4-6, 25 Catholic scholars and 25 Muslims will meet at the Vatican to study the possibilities for collaboration between the two largest religions in the world: 1.4 billion for the Muslims; 1.18 billion for the Catholics. The representatives of more than one third of the planet will meet on the theme of "Love of God and love of neighbor." On the first day, they will address theological-spiritual themes; on the second day, they will turn to "Human dignity," exploring issues related to human rights, religious freedom, religious respect, possibly alluding to the freedom to convert and change religions. ("Christians and Muslims: resuming dialogue, thanks to the Pope," www.asianews.it, Nov. 3, 2008)

Peace.

[Woody]

Yeah. Some people get really excited about that kind of stuff.

[John317]

St Luke, in Acts 17:29, utilized “graven” rather than “mark”; ... charagma.

In Acts 17: 29, the word means "image" or "sculpture." That is the only occurrence of this word outside the book of Revelation. The only others are Rev. 13: 16, 17; 14: 9, 11; 16: 2; 19: 20; and 20: 4. In all these verses it is translated "mark."

All of the above verses have to do with worship of the beast-power, which is a matter of the mind and the will. If the "mark" is a physical mark that can be forced upon people against their will, it would not have the spiritual significance that it obviously has in the book of Revelation. The very essence of the mark relates to the choice people are making. It is difficult to conceive, therefore, why God would allow someone to be lost because of a physical mark on their bodies, which a person may be compelled to receive in spite of their choice.

[guibox]

Sorry guys. There are just waaay too many factors that must come together that cannot come together to make something like this work. I don't care how many meetings the Pope may have with whomever.

We give the West and the Catholic Church way to much credit in today's age. The Catholic Church has no more power like they did in the Middle Ages where a Sunday law with Catholic kings and monarchs backing it up was more of a possibility. The US has alienated most of the other countries in the world.

The pope and the US do not have as much world clout as you guys think they do and even the US passing a nation wide Sunday law (which is practically insane and illogical to begin with) is not going to influence Iran and China to take notice and implement something they don't even believe in.

Short of a nuclear war or alien invasion,and mass conversion of the 4 billion communists, atheists and Muslims to Christianity...it ain't going to work. Not in our lifetime.

[John317]

Short of a nuclear war or alien invasion,and mass conversion of the 4 billion communists, atheists and Muslims to Christianity...it ain't going to work. Not in our lifetime.

1) You may be making some unnecessary assumptions. It isn't necessary for everyone to be "converted" in order to do the things the prophecy predicts. All they have to do is go along with the beast-powers, whether for economic convenience or some other reason.

2) Also, what you consider insane or illogical seems very good and reasonable to a lot of people, and has been passed into laws before both in Europe and in America.

3) The prophecies assume that there will be far different, and more desperate, circumstances in the world than we find it in at the present time.

4) I believe that there is a good chance of a nuclear war being part of the end time scenario.

5) I don't know if you believe in Ellen White, but both she and the Bible speak of the events at the end being ushered in with the help of evil spirits or "demons," etc. Ellen White says that Satan himself will appear as an angel of God and appeal to people to make Sunday laws. Other evil spirits will also appear, even to SDAs, and teach that Sunday laws need to be passed. GC 590, 591, 589; 19 MR 282

6) Let's imagine the world in a crisis situation where it looks like the very existence of mankind is at stake--whether from disease, nuclear war, famine, massive earth quakes, economic collapse, a rising ocean level, meteors, "alien invasion," etc.-- and Satan and other fallen angels appear and appeal for governments to pass certain laws. Further, let's suppose Satan gives "proof" that he is a risen apostle or prophet and he claims that God has sent him to deliver a message to the entire world as to how to survive. He explains what humanity must do-- make laws establishing morality and a day of worship of God. The whole world can see him on live TV.

When then? I believe that if the world was in the grave, desperate situation the prophecies describe, the people and the governments of the world would change rapidly and make decisions to implement the Sunday laws.

[jasd]

Quote:

Quote:jasd

>>It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin).<< [ed.jasd]

2 Pet 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ...

Has the author taken liberties with the text?

>>"hasting unto" means to "hurry" or "hasten". The preposition "unto" is added and does not occur in the original Greek.<<

Be that as it may –

>>The Greek word may also be translated as "earnestly desiring," but the vast majority of translations read "hasten," including the NASB and others as seen here.<<

Exactly.

>>(New American Standard Bible)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(New King James Version)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(English Standard Version)

12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God

New International Version

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming

(Darby Translation)

12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God<<

I think a proper translation may best lie with a need to harmonize “hasting” with the preceding phrase; that is, “Looking for...” – as it is, translations proffering a “hastening the coming” directly oppose the sense of the preceding phrase.

Looking; prosdoka&#333;—to anticipate; (in thought, hope or fear); by impl:--(be in) expect (ation), look (for),when looked, tarry wait for.

Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Matt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Though the above texts are parabolic, there is nothing in these words of Jesus Christ suggesting a preemptory ‘hastening’ of His coming; rather, they imply a thing called a “midnight cry”, which ‘initiates’ a ‘trimming of the lamps’ – which, in turn, immediately precedes His coming...

Per the “vast majority of translations” – I suppose there is reason I prefer the KJV and YLT.

American King James Version

12) Looking for and hastening to the coming

American Standard Version

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

Douay-Rheims Bible

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

English Revised Version

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

Webster’s Bible Translations

12) Looking for and hasting to

Weymouth New Testament

12) eagerly looking forward to

World English Bible

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

King James Version

12) Looking for and hasting unto

Young’s Literal Translation

12) waiting for and hasting to

Quote:

Quote:jasd

>>It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin).<< [ed.jasd]

2 Pet 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ...

Has the author taken liberties with the text?

>>"hasting unto" means to "hurry" or "hasten". The preposition "unto" is added and does not occur in the original Greek.<<

Be that as it may –

>>The Greek word may also be translated as "earnestly desiring," but the vast majority of translations read "hasten," including the NASB and others as seen here.<<

Exactly.

>>(New American Standard Bible)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(New King James Version)

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God

(English Standard Version)

12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God

New International Version

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming

(Darby Translation)

12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God<<

I think a proper translation may best lie with a need to harmonize “hasting” with the preceding phrase; that is, “Looking for...” – as it is, translations proffering a “hastening the coming” directly oppose the sense of the preceding phrase.

Looking; prosdoka&#333;—to anticipate; (in thought, hope or fear); by impl:--(be in) expect (ation), look (for),when looked, tarry wait for.

Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Matt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Though the above texts are parabolic, there is nothing in these words of Jesus Christ suggesting a preemptory ‘hastening’ of His coming; rather, they imply a thing called a “midnight cry”, which ‘initiates’ a ‘trimming of the lamps’ – which, in turn, immediately precedes His coming...

Per the “vast majority of translations” – I suppose there is reason I prefer the KJV and YLT.

American King James Version

12) Looking for and hastening to the coming

American Standard Version

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

Douay-Rheims Bible

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

English Revised Version

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

Webster’s Bible Translations

12) Looking for and hasting to

Weymouth New Testament

12) eagerly looking forward to

World English Bible

12) looking for and earnestly desiring

King James Version

12) Looking for and hasting unto

Young’s Literal Translation

12) waiting for and hasting to

[True-believer]

I was raised as a Pentecostal Christian, so the mark of the beast was said to be a mark 666 and actually placed on the back of our hand or our forehead--pretty much like a barcode. They are already doing that right now to animals, putting identification barcodes under the skins/ears of dogs and cats and numerous other animals.

The world today has enough technology to do that to humans--to us.

Actually put a physical mark on our backhand or forehead.

And also you can't buy or sell without having that mark.

What are your comments on the mark of the beast from this angle?

Have you ever heard of this?

This is being taught as biblical fact in most Christian Churches...

What are your thoughts on the above?

Is the mark of the beast a physical mark or is it Sunday?

Please respond...

I can see either one of them coming into power in today's world.

[John317]

Quote:jasd

Per the “vast majority of translations” – I suppose there is reason I prefer the KJV and YLT.

I do, too. And they agree with the vast majority of translations, as shown below. They both read "hasting" or "hasting the coming." It's the same thing.

Quote:

American King James Version

12) Looking for and hastening to the coming

Webster’s Bible Translations

12) Looking for and hasting to

King James Version

12) Looking for and hasting unto

Young’s Literal Translation

12) waiting for and hasting to

The above 4 translations mean "hasting the coming," or hurrying the coming. "Hasting" is an archaic word for "hasten" or "hurry."

My 1611 edition of the KJV has in the margin, "Or hasting the coming."

Quote:

haste |h&#257;st|

noun

excessive speed or urgency of movement or action; hurry : working with feverish haste | : I write in haste.

verb

archaic term for hasten

[John317]

Quote:jasd

(Darby Translation)

12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God<<

I think a proper translation may best lie with a need to harmonize “hasting” with the preceding phrase; that is, “Looking for...” – as it is, translations proffering a “hastening the coming” directly oppose the sense of the preceding phrase.

Looking; prosdoka&#333;—to anticipate; (in thought, hope or fear); by impl:--(be in) expect (ation), look (for),when looked, tarry wait for.

Please explain how "looking for" is directly opposed to "hastening" the Second Coming. That is precisely what Kenneth Wuest has in his translation. (See The New Testament, An Expanded Translation.) The NRSV, New Jerusalem Bible, and many, many more have the same. You've said that you prefer the KJV and RYL, but these also give the same meaning if not the identical words. The Jewish New Testament has, "as you wait... and work to hasten the day of God...." These actually go quite well together and are not out of harmony with each other.

I think that if it were to say, "looking for and earnestly desiring," it is far more redundant.

In any case, all of the best translations-- and by far the vast majority-- as well as the Greek Lexicons, give "hasten the coming" at 2 Peter 3: 12.

I am not denying that it may be translated as "earnestly desiring." But on the basis of the weight of evidence, I agree with the Robert Young, the NASB, the NKJV, NRSV, and many more, that it is best translated as "haste" or "hasten."

[fccool]

I was raised as a Pentecostal Christian, so the mark of the beast was said to be a mark 666 and actually placed on the back of our hand or our forehead--pretty much like a barcode. They are already doing that right now to animals, putting identification barcodes under the skins/ears of dogs and cats and numerous other animals.

The world today has enough technology to do that to humans--to us.

Actually put a physical mark on our backhand or forehead.

And also you can't buy or sell without having that mark.

What are your comments on the mark of the beast from this angle?

Have you ever heard of this?

This is being taught as biblical fact in most Christian Churches...

What are your thoughts on the above?

Is the mark of the beast a physical mark or is it Sunday?

Please respond...

I can see either one of them coming into power in today's world.

I tend to think that mark is more of a spiritual nature, rather than physical. And for the following reasons.

1) It is an opposite to the mark that God puts in the foreheads of the believers. Biblically, it is obvious that is not a physical mark, but mark of acknowledgment and obedience through action.

2) You can look at the act of being able to buy or sell from various angles. One of this angles is having income, and other having a bank account. If one is prohibited from work under certain circumstances, and employment and commerce laws are tightened... then one is effectively barred from buying or selling. If one's bank account is frozen, you could say that you are prohibited from using your money... or buying.

I don't think that issue at steak is 100% obedience to the law of the beast, as I'm sure there will be people buying or selling on the black markets. The issue here is more of a universal statism that imposes tariffs and penalties on anyone who does not go along. I think that the tariffs will come before penalties.

Above all, you have to read the passage that describes mark of the beast in context of the entire symbolisms of Revelation. I think it would be fair to say that the Beast is not refers to a literal beast running around, but to a human, or a group of demoniacally guided humans. With the symbolism in mind, why should we interpret the mark of the beast as a literal sign... i.e. a barcode, or a chip... rather than a symbolic sign, just like the beast is a symbol of something else?

[messenger]

Hello everyone,

I can see the Biblical sense for a Sunday Law, but it looks so unreal in todays world.

In Australia--we will never have a National Day of Rest--I can not see it happening.

In Australia people love work so much that we trade a full seven days each and every week.

Australia will never endorse a day of rest, the people here will not accept it--they love working too much.

That's not to say I don't want one.

I do want a National Day of Rest on the seventh day--God's Holy Sabbath Day and not Sunday which is the complete opposite.

Sunday must be the Mark of the beast.

Sabbath--7th day--we're sealed by the Holy Spirit--This is the seal of God for the true believers.

Greetings my friend Luke, In these countries where it seems there is no way that they would endorse and enforce any kind of national Sunday Law, for religious reason or because they are not a Christian Country like China, India,Iraq etc. Well, when these counties start to fail economically, and they are boycotted by the religious countries like Catholic Europe, America etc. they will submit in order to be able to buy and sell.

The Mark or Seal of God:

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads…(this is the mark of God} When we understand the relation of faith and works, the law and the gospel. When we understand these things clearly in our minds and heart then we will be sealed by God. But of God’s seal (His Mark) it says:…

"It is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they can not be moved; just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” 4 S.D.A. Bible Commentary p. 1161.

God’s seal or mark is only in the forehead not in the hand like the mark of the beast. Because God wants only those who make a choice, intellectually understanding the truth of God. There is no force or government legislation by God, He wants only free will service motivated by love. To be sealed by God is to understand His word settling into the truth ‘both Intellectually and Spiritually.’ I believe this means to understand Righteousness by faith in relation to the Ten Commandment and how faith and works go to together motivated by love—intellectually means the law the Ten Commandments are in our minds and helps to govern our conscience, will and reasoning powers. And spiritually means that this law of love-Christ Himself is in our hearts too governing our words, actions, passions and desires-emotions, this is the new covenant. The Gospel and the Law of God go together. We must understand this, for it is the new covenant promise the Lord puts the law in our hearts and minds. “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, says the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write them in their hearts…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33,34. “Here is the patient of the saints that keep the commandments of God (the Ten Commandments both the letter and the spirit of the law) and the faith of Jesus.” Rev 14:12.

The Mark of the Beast:

Rev 13:15 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."

... "and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast"...

Rev. 13:12.

The Bible text says ‘and he spoke’,( this represents government legislation and then it says ‘and causes’, this means enforcement of the legislation that the beast makes, but notice it is not just a political beast, it is religious too, it enforces worship. “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand...(the 666 number is not the mark of the beast and it is not some tattoo or card, the mark ‘on their foreheads” means by choice, willful thought, decision is made they agree religiously theologically. And by ‘on their right hands’ means that those who do not agree religiously,

could be other non-Christian counties like China, Indian, Muslims, or non- Christian people in our country etc., they too will cooperate with the beast powers, they will go along with it so they will not be boycotted so they can still buy or sell, so many countries of non religious people will only go along with it and obey the beast for economic reasons, but they are force too, it is the new law.)

But regardless of the reason people accept the mark of the beast, it says, verse (10) he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. verse (11) And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (12) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation.14:9-12.

The mark of the beast—which is not a literal mark, but a choice made in the forehead the mind,a rejection of the true Christ and the true Law of God. In receiving the mark of the beast in the head is acceptance in your mind an intellectual choice to accept the false gospel, and in your hand indicates your agreement or cooperation although you may not agree in principal with the false theology. But forced to agree or you you or your country will not be able to buy or sell. With the USA and the world economies now failing, this is much more practical and more countries are desperate and will cooperate with anything to be able to continue to buy and sell etc.

What are some of your thoughts about these things? Could they being happening soon?

May the Spirit of the Lord be with us each one to give us the Spiritual experience and guidance we will need in the coming times of trouble. Messenger