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Lesson 25: The Great Controversy at the End
Time Crisis
In the war between Good and Evil, or rather between Christ and Satan, we have seen that Satan’s efforts are against the government of God. His attempt has been to usurp God’s authority, destroy God’s laws, and turn people’s hope away from Jesus. We have also seen that Satan has used different agencies including religions, governments and social powers to bring about his warfare.
It is not by coincidence that Darwin wrote the first chapters of his book on evolution, Origin of Species, in 1844. Nor is it a mere chance that Karl Marx wrote his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts in 1844. Satan was ramping up for his final assault in an attempt to turn earth’s last generations away from God as our Creator and our Redeemer (evolution providing a false creator, and social reforms being a false redeemer).
Just as Satan uses evolutionary theory to rob God of the glory and credit He deserves for masterminding the complexity of our DNA and the wonders around us, Scripture prophesied that there would be entities that would work hand in hand with Satan to divert glory from God. In this lesson we will identify who they are and how they will do it.
Q1. What did the apostle John see rise up out of the sea? Read Revelation 13:1-8.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
Fatma had called Mehmet, Reşat and Afife, and Ekrem and Filiz, and told them that although it was the first night of the sacrificial holiday, she would still be happy to have everyone come to her house for the Tuesday night study.
Fatma prepared some special lentil soup and salty pastry with spinach and cheese for everyone to make the evening special. That night they had a very lively conversation that sprang from the texts in Revelation 13.
"Do you think that at the end of time there will really be a monster like this?" said Afife. "It seems horrible and scary."
Reşat looked at his wife a little bit scornfully, surprised at her remark. "Afife, this isn't talking about a real beast. Beasts represent powers. We saw that in the book of Daniel."
Afife shrank back from her husband's demeanor, embarrassed that she had not understood.
Mehmet tried to soften the situation by continuing the conversation. "I think it is pretty clear that these verses are talking about papal Rome. The beast has the attributes of the lion, the bear and the leopard in Daniel 7. The only animal we don't see is the creature that represented Rome. That's because the creature is Rome. We see here that it blasphemes just like papal Rome. It is a religious power because people worship it. It persecutes the saints and lasts 42 months which is the same as 1260 years when you take a day for a year. Papal Rome suffered a deadly wound in 1798 at the end of the 1260 year period when a French general took the pope captive. We might say the deadly wound was healed in 1929 when Vatican City became a sovereign state. Plus, the dragon gives Rome its power."
Afife was afraid to ask, "Who is the dragon?" and was glad that Türkan asked instead.
Mert jumped in, "That is Satan according to Revelation 12:9."
Mehmet added, "So one of the end-time players is papal Rome." (To be continued)
Q2. Who is another player in the end time? Read Revelation 13:11-12.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
How can we identify this second beast? There are several identifying factors. This two-horned beast comes up out of the earth and not out of the sea as did the first beast. The waters represent peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues according to Revelation 17:15. The first beast, Rome, came up in Europe among many people groups. But the second beast comes up in an area where there are not many people.
Another identifying quality is that it rises up after papal Rome. Since the forty-two months of papal dominion is mentioned in the prophecy we can look for the fulfillment of the rise of the second beast at the end of that period. It has incredible power like Rome and forces the whole world to worship papal Rome. Only one great power in the world came up around 1798 in an undeveloped and relatively unpopulated area. This second big player at the end of time is the United States of America. Its power seems lamb-like in appearance, but speaks, that is it exercises authority, like a dragon.
Q3. What other things does the two-horned beast do? Read Revelation 13:13-18.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
At the end of time, the United States of America deceives the world into making an image to the papacy. It forces people economically to receive the mark of the beast in the right hand or in the forehead. Those who do not worship the beast will be sentenced to death. In the three angels' message we read, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, "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." 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." Revelation 14:9-11.
The beast deceives and forces people into false worship. We want to know what this deception is and what we must do to avoid it. We want to identify the mark of the beast.
Q4. After repeating the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, where did Moses command them to fasten the words of the Lord? Read Deuteronomy 6:6-8.
A.__________________________________________________
Moses said that the words of the Lord, that is the commandments, should be in their hearts. But he also said that the words of the Lord should be a sign on their hands and a strap or band on their forehead. What did he mean by that? Many Jewish people today physically strap the commandments to their hands and foreheads in the form of phylacteries. And that is the way that the Kutsal Kitap translation of verse 8 reads in Turkish. But the word phylactery does not appear in the Hebrew text. It simply says that “you will bind them for a sign on the hand and they will be a band between the eyes.” What does the word “they” and “them” refer to? It refers to the Ten Commandments. Does that mean that the Jews were to physically tie phylacteries to their bodies? There is a better way to understand the meaning of this text. But there is a better way to understand the meaning of this text.
The hand represents our actions (Ecclesiastes 9:10) and God wants all of our actions to be according to His law. The forehead represents our thoughts (Ezekiel 3:8, 9) and it is the part of the brain that makes moral decisions. God wants us to make decisions and think according to His standards and will. However, the mark of the beast will be the exact opposite. It will not be a literal sign, tattoo or microchip in the hand or on the forehead. It will be deeds and thoughts that are directly opposed to the laws of God. Which laws of God will the beast fight against?
If the papacy and the United States tried to get anyone in Turkey to bow down to an idol, they would not do it. But could they deceive people into false worship? The following quotes illustrate that the papacy would "think to change times and laws" (Daniel 7:25). The Catholic Church claims to have changed the fourth commandment requiring observance of the Sabbath to Sunday.
The Roman Catholic Church has said about itself, "The Church of Rome is above the Bible; and this transference of Sabbath observance to Sunday is proof positive of that fact. Deny the authority of the Church of Rome and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday." The Catholic Record Volume XLV #2342 September 1, 1923, Publisher & Proprietor, Thomas Coffey, LL. D.
"For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible." Article "To Tell You the Truth" Catholic Virginian Oct. 3, 1947.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act…And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Letter from C.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons on October 28, 1895.
How does this affect Turkey? On May 27, 1935 the Law of Weekly Rest (No. 2739, Article 3) was changed and the word "Friday" was substituted by "Sunday." The law only specified one day of the week as a rest day, and suggested that Sunday would be that day.
For example in article 9 it says, "Stores and establishments opening on Sunday in opposition to the provision of this law will be closed by the police and will be handed over to the ex officio justice of the peace for a statement of the officer explaining the matter and for the sake of applying to the court."[1] Furthermore, the Law of National Holidays and Vacations Number 2429 of 1981 states in article Article 3 that Sunday is the weekly vacation day or day of rest. [2]
Sunday observance showing allegiance to the papacy has been a part of Turkish law for many decades but few people know it or understand it. The people have grown accustomed to Sunday as the day of rest. Thus Turkey, like the rest of the world, is being deceived religiously by economic adaptation to policy of the papacy and European law. This will soon be followed by the insistence of the United States that all keep Sunday as a day of rest. The acceptance may be one of the mind (forehead) in religious obedience or one of practical compromise for the sake of economic prosperity (hand). Regardless of why it is accepted, God’s people will not join in honoring the day of the week set up by the papacy in defiance of God’s law.
Q5. How will God’s people be distinguished from the wicked? Read Revelation 7:1-3.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Before the end God will “seal” the foreheads of the righteous. A seal in ancient times was an official signature. It was the tool used by the Sultan or king to signify his authority, approval, and confirmation of a royal decree or document. In Revelation we see the seal as a symbol of what God will do for His people. The forehead represents our thoughts. Scientists acknowledge that our frontal lobe is where our highest order of thinking, including our will and ability to make moral decisions, takes place.
Q6. What are the Ten Commandments called? Read Exodus 34:28.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Q7. What type of covenant is the Sabbath called? Read Exodus 31:12-17.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
The covenant God made with His people involves Ten Commandments. The way a person shows that they are in full submission to the agreement was through God’s unique sign found in the Ten Commandments. That sign is the observance of God’s Sabbath and keeping the seventh-day, Saturday, holy.
Q8. Is the Sabbath covenant for Israelites only? Read Isaiah 56:1-8.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Do you believe that the gospel of salvation is for the whole world or just for Jews? Consider Romans 1:16, 17. God’s Ten Commandments and the Sabbath are also for all people. In fact, rather than honoring a particular nation or language group, it calls all men to take on a new identity, and become “the people of God.”
Q9. The Bible is clear that those that who would enter heaven must be sealed. How are they sealed? Read Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God seals the believers with His Holy Spirit. The relationship between God’s Holy Sabbath as His signet of His authority as Creator, and his Holy Spirit is clear. As believers “get in step with the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) they get on God’s time schedule; they get in syncopation with the God’s rhythm. God “blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” And similarly He will bless those who follow him wholeheartedly and make them holy.
Q10. Where is the law or covenant to be written? Read Hebrews 10:16.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
The law is sealed on God’s people by being “written on their minds.” In other words, God’s law is the basis upon which they make every decision of their life, how they operate their business, their family, their entertainment and hobbies. Keeping the law of God starts in the mind, thus it is symbolized by the forehead.
Q11. On what event does God base His claim to our worship and obedience? Read Isaiah 40:25, 26 and Psalm 95:6.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God who made the heavens and the earth rightfully deserves human worship.
Q12. What has God done to give us a continual reminder of His authority? Read Exodus 20:8-11.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God blessed a day and commands all humans to remember it. In fact He put it in the heart of His law. Isn’t it interesting to think that God would command rest! In Genesis 2:1-3 we are told that this rest was established in paradise; how much more do humans need God’s blessed day now that we have left paradise! And so God put the rest day in the heart of His commandments. Today God’s command still stands strong. It has never been altered.
Q13. Why is the Sabbath command used by God as a distinguishing seal of His true followers? Read Ezekiel 20:12, 20.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
We rest on the Sabbath day as a memorial of creation and our salvation. He who is the Creator is also the creator of our holiness. We have no holiness apart from God. This is in direct contrast to a religion that teaches salvation by sacraments, pilgrimages, alms-giving or other works. When we rest on God’s Sabbath we are resting in the perfect and complete work of God’s salvation for us. Salvation comes from grace alone (undeserved favor from God) and there is nothing we can do to earn it.
Q14. How are the “saints” or people of God distinguished from the wicked? Read Revelation 14:12; 13:4.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God’s people worship the Creator. Meanwhile the wicked are deceived into worshipping Satan and his false agencies.
A time is coming in the near future when governments will enforce laws that they have established to honor the beast. If people do not receive the “mark” of the beast’s authority, they will be locked out of the global economic system. Then they will fully depend on God to supply their needs. Unfortunately the majority of people will follow the beast and receive his mark (Revelation 13:3). The pressure to follow or “worship” the beast will grow so intense that it will even mean a death decree for those who think or practice differently (Revelation 13:15).
Just as God sealed His law by ordaining the Sabbath as a day of worship, so also the mark of the beast is a day of worship, falsely assigned by men, to take the place of the seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath rest.
The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11, is the seal of God’s law supplying a) name, b) title, and c) territory of the lawgiver. “The LORD your God, Creator of heaven and earth.”
Standing in opposition to this is the mark of the beast which is the counterfeit of the seventh-day Sabbath. For many in our country Friday has traditionally been seen as a suitable day of worship. Oddly, Sunday, the first day, has been introduced as a day of rest. Both miss God’s intent. Sunday was popularized by pagan sun worshippers, adopted by Christians, and embraced by the secular world as the day of “rest” and family leisure. For much of the world it is a day of worship, though never appointed by God!
The Bible says that the issue of true worship versus false worship will become a dividing issue at the end of time. Sunday’s appreciation as a “day off” from work is a human plan established on false worship. The mark of the beast is the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s appointment of God’s Holy Sabbath -- Saturday.
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
“Do you really think persecution over a religious day of worship could take place in these modern times?” Filiz asked holding a cookie in one hand. “Most people aren’t even concerned with worship on any day.”
Mehmet reflected, “In my estimation, it is the universal moral slide, or rather irreligious nature which will help engender the persecuting spirit.”
“How so?” Reşat asked.
“Jesus said, ‘The love of most will grow cold.’ When this happens, the people of the earth will be ready to hurt those who still have the light of God kindled in them.”
“Yes,” said Mert, “But the people will have to have some religious yearning, to put in place laws dictating a religious belief system.”
“Not necessarily,” said Fatma, “if their hatred toward God’s righteous people is strong enough, they can simply use religion as a means to destroy them.”
Yusuf said, “You lost me on that one.”
Fatma smiled, “Yusuf, do you remember the story when the prophet Daniel was thrown into the lions den?”
Yusuf nodded, “Yes, Mert and I studied that together.”
“Do you remember why Daniel was thrown into the lions den?”
“Yes, because he was breaking a law.”
“What law?”
Yusuf pondered for a moment, “A law not to pray to anyone except the king.”
“Right. But did they write that law because they were spiritual men?” Fatma asked.
“No. They wrote it simply because of jealousy of Daniel.” Yusuf smiled reflecting on the previous point. “Okay, I got it. So the persecution laws relating to Sunday worship could be established out of envy, hatred, or some other destructive motive, not because of the devotion of the secular people, but out of hatred of the Sabbath keepers.”
Fatma sat back, “Exactly.”
Mehmet spoke up, “I am thinking of another story in Daniel about Daniel’s three friends. They were ordered to bow down to an idol, but were faithful to the point of being put in a furnace, even when all the people around them were bowing down to the towering golden idol.”
Türkan said, “It seems like an odd thing to expect that people from all over the world would all face in one direction and bow to an idol.” Trying to answer her own puzzle, she continued, “But what if some cataclysmic event were to rivet the attention of the world, maybe then it would be possible to get everybody aligned, except the righteous.”
Mehmet shook his head, “Türkan Hanım, you have misunderstood a few things. First of all the image to the beast is not a real statue. In Revelation 13:14 when it says that the United States will make an image to the beast it is using the language of the event about Daniel’s three friends but this is symbolic. The image to the beast is a union of church and state that persecutes dissenters. This is what happened to the three youths in Babyon. This was what the papacy did in the Middle Ages and what America will do at the end of time. I was trying to say that Daniel’s friends stood for their convictions to hold to the Ten Commandments despite a law -- which was basically the death penalty for having a different worship than the majority government position.”
Fatma spoke up, “If I may insert myself between you for a moment. Mehmet, your point is well made. However I wouldn’t too quickly dismiss mom’s observation that a single event may rivet the world to unite them. Consider this text in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12.”
Mehmet read it very slowly and clearly, emphasizing each word.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
When he finished, he said, “It seems to me Türkan Hanım, that the one rallying point you mentioned, could be the appearance of some sort of anti-christ figure. As illustrated with the fiery furnace story, that will require a clear determination to do what is right no matter the consequences.”
Ekrem spoke for the first time that evening, “Now that is a topic I would like to know more about.”
Fatma, held up her Bible. “It’s all here, if we take time to dig for it.”
Fatma that night had firmly decided to close her two clothing stores on the Sabbath. Her employees were delighted for the extra day off. They didn’t seem to understand when she told them that she would also be closing early on Friday night, but again they were happy for the time off. Was Fatma concerned that Saturday had been her biggest sales day? Not really. She told Mert while sitting at breakfast, “It would be a bigger concern to me that I was disobeying God. You know son, we only pass through this life once, and if we starve to death for following God, then really that is His problem not mine. He has a reputation to keep up, all He has asked of me is to be faithful.”
Mert smiled at his mom because he appreciated her so much. This was the attitude in his mom he had come to love. When Fatma had decided she was going to follow God after her husband’s death, she decided firmly to go with her full conscious strength. Wasn’t this why her life had succeeded to this point in business? What she set her mind to do, she did it.
Why don’t you bow to your knees now and re-commit your thoughts (forehead) and your actions (your hands), to the God who created you. While you are praying, ask for the seal of the Holy Spirit and commit yourself resolutely to keep God’s holy Sabbath, His sign, no matter what.
Call to commitment through prayer.
[1] http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/Metin1.Aspx?MevzuatKod=1.3.394&MevzuatIliski=0 &sourceXmlSearch=&Tur=1&Tertip=3&No=394
[2] http://mevzuat.meb.gov.tr/html/114.html
Time Crisis
In the war between Good and Evil, or rather between Christ and Satan, we have seen that Satan’s efforts are against the government of God. His attempt has been to usurp God’s authority, destroy God’s laws, and turn people’s hope away from Jesus. We have also seen that Satan has used different agencies including religions, governments and social powers to bring about his warfare.
It is not by coincidence that Darwin wrote the first chapters of his book on evolution, Origin of Species, in 1844. Nor is it a mere chance that Karl Marx wrote his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts in 1844. Satan was ramping up for his final assault in an attempt to turn earth’s last generations away from God as our Creator and our Redeemer (evolution providing a false creator, and social reforms being a false redeemer).
Just as Satan uses evolutionary theory to rob God of the glory and credit He deserves for masterminding the complexity of our DNA and the wonders around us, Scripture prophesied that there would be entities that would work hand in hand with Satan to divert glory from God. In this lesson we will identify who they are and how they will do it.
Q1. What did the apostle John see rise up out of the sea? Read Revelation 13:1-8.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
Fatma had called Mehmet, Reşat and Afife, and Ekrem and Filiz, and told them that although it was the first night of the sacrificial holiday, she would still be happy to have everyone come to her house for the Tuesday night study.
Fatma prepared some special lentil soup and salty pastry with spinach and cheese for everyone to make the evening special. That night they had a very lively conversation that sprang from the texts in Revelation 13.
"Do you think that at the end of time there will really be a monster like this?" said Afife. "It seems horrible and scary."
Reşat looked at his wife a little bit scornfully, surprised at her remark. "Afife, this isn't talking about a real beast. Beasts represent powers. We saw that in the book of Daniel."
Afife shrank back from her husband's demeanor, embarrassed that she had not understood.
Mehmet tried to soften the situation by continuing the conversation. "I think it is pretty clear that these verses are talking about papal Rome. The beast has the attributes of the lion, the bear and the leopard in Daniel 7. The only animal we don't see is the creature that represented Rome. That's because the creature is Rome. We see here that it blasphemes just like papal Rome. It is a religious power because people worship it. It persecutes the saints and lasts 42 months which is the same as 1260 years when you take a day for a year. Papal Rome suffered a deadly wound in 1798 at the end of the 1260 year period when a French general took the pope captive. We might say the deadly wound was healed in 1929 when Vatican City became a sovereign state. Plus, the dragon gives Rome its power."
Afife was afraid to ask, "Who is the dragon?" and was glad that Türkan asked instead.
Mert jumped in, "That is Satan according to Revelation 12:9."
Mehmet added, "So one of the end-time players is papal Rome." (To be continued)
Q2. Who is another player in the end time? Read Revelation 13:11-12.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
How can we identify this second beast? There are several identifying factors. This two-horned beast comes up out of the earth and not out of the sea as did the first beast. The waters represent peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues according to Revelation 17:15. The first beast, Rome, came up in Europe among many people groups. But the second beast comes up in an area where there are not many people.
Another identifying quality is that it rises up after papal Rome. Since the forty-two months of papal dominion is mentioned in the prophecy we can look for the fulfillment of the rise of the second beast at the end of that period. It has incredible power like Rome and forces the whole world to worship papal Rome. Only one great power in the world came up around 1798 in an undeveloped and relatively unpopulated area. This second big player at the end of time is the United States of America. Its power seems lamb-like in appearance, but speaks, that is it exercises authority, like a dragon.
Q3. What other things does the two-horned beast do? Read Revelation 13:13-18.
A.____________________________________________________________________________
At the end of time, the United States of America deceives the world into making an image to the papacy. It forces people economically to receive the mark of the beast in the right hand or in the forehead. Those who do not worship the beast will be sentenced to death. In the three angels' message we read, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, "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." 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." Revelation 14:9-11.
The beast deceives and forces people into false worship. We want to know what this deception is and what we must do to avoid it. We want to identify the mark of the beast.
Q4. After repeating the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, where did Moses command them to fasten the words of the Lord? Read Deuteronomy 6:6-8.
A.__________________________________________________
Moses said that the words of the Lord, that is the commandments, should be in their hearts. But he also said that the words of the Lord should be a sign on their hands and a strap or band on their forehead. What did he mean by that? Many Jewish people today physically strap the commandments to their hands and foreheads in the form of phylacteries. And that is the way that the Kutsal Kitap translation of verse 8 reads in Turkish. But the word phylactery does not appear in the Hebrew text. It simply says that “you will bind them for a sign on the hand and they will be a band between the eyes.” What does the word “they” and “them” refer to? It refers to the Ten Commandments. Does that mean that the Jews were to physically tie phylacteries to their bodies? There is a better way to understand the meaning of this text. But there is a better way to understand the meaning of this text.
The hand represents our actions (Ecclesiastes 9:10) and God wants all of our actions to be according to His law. The forehead represents our thoughts (Ezekiel 3:8, 9) and it is the part of the brain that makes moral decisions. God wants us to make decisions and think according to His standards and will. However, the mark of the beast will be the exact opposite. It will not be a literal sign, tattoo or microchip in the hand or on the forehead. It will be deeds and thoughts that are directly opposed to the laws of God. Which laws of God will the beast fight against?
If the papacy and the United States tried to get anyone in Turkey to bow down to an idol, they would not do it. But could they deceive people into false worship? The following quotes illustrate that the papacy would "think to change times and laws" (Daniel 7:25). The Catholic Church claims to have changed the fourth commandment requiring observance of the Sabbath to Sunday.
The Roman Catholic Church has said about itself, "The Church of Rome is above the Bible; and this transference of Sabbath observance to Sunday is proof positive of that fact. Deny the authority of the Church of Rome and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday." The Catholic Record Volume XLV #2342 September 1, 1923, Publisher & Proprietor, Thomas Coffey, LL. D.
"For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible." Article "To Tell You the Truth" Catholic Virginian Oct. 3, 1947.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act…And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Letter from C.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons on October 28, 1895.
How does this affect Turkey? On May 27, 1935 the Law of Weekly Rest (No. 2739, Article 3) was changed and the word "Friday" was substituted by "Sunday." The law only specified one day of the week as a rest day, and suggested that Sunday would be that day.
For example in article 9 it says, "Stores and establishments opening on Sunday in opposition to the provision of this law will be closed by the police and will be handed over to the ex officio justice of the peace for a statement of the officer explaining the matter and for the sake of applying to the court."[1] Furthermore, the Law of National Holidays and Vacations Number 2429 of 1981 states in article Article 3 that Sunday is the weekly vacation day or day of rest. [2]
Sunday observance showing allegiance to the papacy has been a part of Turkish law for many decades but few people know it or understand it. The people have grown accustomed to Sunday as the day of rest. Thus Turkey, like the rest of the world, is being deceived religiously by economic adaptation to policy of the papacy and European law. This will soon be followed by the insistence of the United States that all keep Sunday as a day of rest. The acceptance may be one of the mind (forehead) in religious obedience or one of practical compromise for the sake of economic prosperity (hand). Regardless of why it is accepted, God’s people will not join in honoring the day of the week set up by the papacy in defiance of God’s law.
Q5. How will God’s people be distinguished from the wicked? Read Revelation 7:1-3.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Before the end God will “seal” the foreheads of the righteous. A seal in ancient times was an official signature. It was the tool used by the Sultan or king to signify his authority, approval, and confirmation of a royal decree or document. In Revelation we see the seal as a symbol of what God will do for His people. The forehead represents our thoughts. Scientists acknowledge that our frontal lobe is where our highest order of thinking, including our will and ability to make moral decisions, takes place.
Q6. What are the Ten Commandments called? Read Exodus 34:28.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Q7. What type of covenant is the Sabbath called? Read Exodus 31:12-17.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
The covenant God made with His people involves Ten Commandments. The way a person shows that they are in full submission to the agreement was through God’s unique sign found in the Ten Commandments. That sign is the observance of God’s Sabbath and keeping the seventh-day, Saturday, holy.
Q8. Is the Sabbath covenant for Israelites only? Read Isaiah 56:1-8.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
Do you believe that the gospel of salvation is for the whole world or just for Jews? Consider Romans 1:16, 17. God’s Ten Commandments and the Sabbath are also for all people. In fact, rather than honoring a particular nation or language group, it calls all men to take on a new identity, and become “the people of God.”
Q9. The Bible is clear that those that who would enter heaven must be sealed. How are they sealed? Read Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God seals the believers with His Holy Spirit. The relationship between God’s Holy Sabbath as His signet of His authority as Creator, and his Holy Spirit is clear. As believers “get in step with the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) they get on God’s time schedule; they get in syncopation with the God’s rhythm. God “blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” And similarly He will bless those who follow him wholeheartedly and make them holy.
Q10. Where is the law or covenant to be written? Read Hebrews 10:16.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
The law is sealed on God’s people by being “written on their minds.” In other words, God’s law is the basis upon which they make every decision of their life, how they operate their business, their family, their entertainment and hobbies. Keeping the law of God starts in the mind, thus it is symbolized by the forehead.
Q11. On what event does God base His claim to our worship and obedience? Read Isaiah 40:25, 26 and Psalm 95:6.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God who made the heavens and the earth rightfully deserves human worship.
Q12. What has God done to give us a continual reminder of His authority? Read Exodus 20:8-11.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God blessed a day and commands all humans to remember it. In fact He put it in the heart of His law. Isn’t it interesting to think that God would command rest! In Genesis 2:1-3 we are told that this rest was established in paradise; how much more do humans need God’s blessed day now that we have left paradise! And so God put the rest day in the heart of His commandments. Today God’s command still stands strong. It has never been altered.
Q13. Why is the Sabbath command used by God as a distinguishing seal of His true followers? Read Ezekiel 20:12, 20.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
We rest on the Sabbath day as a memorial of creation and our salvation. He who is the Creator is also the creator of our holiness. We have no holiness apart from God. This is in direct contrast to a religion that teaches salvation by sacraments, pilgrimages, alms-giving or other works. When we rest on God’s Sabbath we are resting in the perfect and complete work of God’s salvation for us. Salvation comes from grace alone (undeserved favor from God) and there is nothing we can do to earn it.
Q14. How are the “saints” or people of God distinguished from the wicked? Read Revelation 14:12; 13:4.
A. ___________________________________________________________________________
God’s people worship the Creator. Meanwhile the wicked are deceived into worshipping Satan and his false agencies.
A time is coming in the near future when governments will enforce laws that they have established to honor the beast. If people do not receive the “mark” of the beast’s authority, they will be locked out of the global economic system. Then they will fully depend on God to supply their needs. Unfortunately the majority of people will follow the beast and receive his mark (Revelation 13:3). The pressure to follow or “worship” the beast will grow so intense that it will even mean a death decree for those who think or practice differently (Revelation 13:15).
Just as God sealed His law by ordaining the Sabbath as a day of worship, so also the mark of the beast is a day of worship, falsely assigned by men, to take the place of the seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath rest.
The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11, is the seal of God’s law supplying a) name, b) title, and c) territory of the lawgiver. “The LORD your God, Creator of heaven and earth.”
Standing in opposition to this is the mark of the beast which is the counterfeit of the seventh-day Sabbath. For many in our country Friday has traditionally been seen as a suitable day of worship. Oddly, Sunday, the first day, has been introduced as a day of rest. Both miss God’s intent. Sunday was popularized by pagan sun worshippers, adopted by Christians, and embraced by the secular world as the day of “rest” and family leisure. For much of the world it is a day of worship, though never appointed by God!
The Bible says that the issue of true worship versus false worship will become a dividing issue at the end of time. Sunday’s appreciation as a “day off” from work is a human plan established on false worship. The mark of the beast is the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s appointment of God’s Holy Sabbath -- Saturday.
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
“Do you really think persecution over a religious day of worship could take place in these modern times?” Filiz asked holding a cookie in one hand. “Most people aren’t even concerned with worship on any day.”
Mehmet reflected, “In my estimation, it is the universal moral slide, or rather irreligious nature which will help engender the persecuting spirit.”
“How so?” Reşat asked.
“Jesus said, ‘The love of most will grow cold.’ When this happens, the people of the earth will be ready to hurt those who still have the light of God kindled in them.”
“Yes,” said Mert, “But the people will have to have some religious yearning, to put in place laws dictating a religious belief system.”
“Not necessarily,” said Fatma, “if their hatred toward God’s righteous people is strong enough, they can simply use religion as a means to destroy them.”
Yusuf said, “You lost me on that one.”
Fatma smiled, “Yusuf, do you remember the story when the prophet Daniel was thrown into the lions den?”
Yusuf nodded, “Yes, Mert and I studied that together.”
“Do you remember why Daniel was thrown into the lions den?”
“Yes, because he was breaking a law.”
“What law?”
Yusuf pondered for a moment, “A law not to pray to anyone except the king.”
“Right. But did they write that law because they were spiritual men?” Fatma asked.
“No. They wrote it simply because of jealousy of Daniel.” Yusuf smiled reflecting on the previous point. “Okay, I got it. So the persecution laws relating to Sunday worship could be established out of envy, hatred, or some other destructive motive, not because of the devotion of the secular people, but out of hatred of the Sabbath keepers.”
Fatma sat back, “Exactly.”
Mehmet spoke up, “I am thinking of another story in Daniel about Daniel’s three friends. They were ordered to bow down to an idol, but were faithful to the point of being put in a furnace, even when all the people around them were bowing down to the towering golden idol.”
Türkan said, “It seems like an odd thing to expect that people from all over the world would all face in one direction and bow to an idol.” Trying to answer her own puzzle, she continued, “But what if some cataclysmic event were to rivet the attention of the world, maybe then it would be possible to get everybody aligned, except the righteous.”
Mehmet shook his head, “Türkan Hanım, you have misunderstood a few things. First of all the image to the beast is not a real statue. In Revelation 13:14 when it says that the United States will make an image to the beast it is using the language of the event about Daniel’s three friends but this is symbolic. The image to the beast is a union of church and state that persecutes dissenters. This is what happened to the three youths in Babyon. This was what the papacy did in the Middle Ages and what America will do at the end of time. I was trying to say that Daniel’s friends stood for their convictions to hold to the Ten Commandments despite a law -- which was basically the death penalty for having a different worship than the majority government position.”
Fatma spoke up, “If I may insert myself between you for a moment. Mehmet, your point is well made. However I wouldn’t too quickly dismiss mom’s observation that a single event may rivet the world to unite them. Consider this text in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12.”
Mehmet read it very slowly and clearly, emphasizing each word.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
When he finished, he said, “It seems to me Türkan Hanım, that the one rallying point you mentioned, could be the appearance of some sort of anti-christ figure. As illustrated with the fiery furnace story, that will require a clear determination to do what is right no matter the consequences.”
Ekrem spoke for the first time that evening, “Now that is a topic I would like to know more about.”
Fatma, held up her Bible. “It’s all here, if we take time to dig for it.”
Fatma that night had firmly decided to close her two clothing stores on the Sabbath. Her employees were delighted for the extra day off. They didn’t seem to understand when she told them that she would also be closing early on Friday night, but again they were happy for the time off. Was Fatma concerned that Saturday had been her biggest sales day? Not really. She told Mert while sitting at breakfast, “It would be a bigger concern to me that I was disobeying God. You know son, we only pass through this life once, and if we starve to death for following God, then really that is His problem not mine. He has a reputation to keep up, all He has asked of me is to be faithful.”
Mert smiled at his mom because he appreciated her so much. This was the attitude in his mom he had come to love. When Fatma had decided she was going to follow God after her husband’s death, she decided firmly to go with her full conscious strength. Wasn’t this why her life had succeeded to this point in business? What she set her mind to do, she did it.
Why don’t you bow to your knees now and re-commit your thoughts (forehead) and your actions (your hands), to the God who created you. While you are praying, ask for the seal of the Holy Spirit and commit yourself resolutely to keep God’s holy Sabbath, His sign, no matter what.
Call to commitment through prayer.
[1] http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/Metin1.Aspx?MevzuatKod=1.3.394&MevzuatIliski=0 &sourceXmlSearch=&Tur=1&Tertip=3&No=394
[2] http://mevzuat.meb.gov.tr/html/114.html