The Sabbath and the Tribulation
I was sent a link to an article called the “The Beast, The Dragon and The Woman” by Joe Crews from Amazingfacts.org. I started to read this article and was very intrigued at the first few pages on his historical background information regarding who the antiChrist could be. But when I continued to read, everything came to a screeching halt. Mr Crews believes that the Mark of the Beast will be those who keep Sundays holy during the tribulation instead of Saturdays (the Sabbath): He says;
The Seal of God
“A seal is something that has to do with legal affairs. Official documents are always stamped with the seal of the governing body. Every government has a seal that is placed upon its legal documents…..
“Does God’s seal have to do with His law also? If so, how and where is it impressed? Let’s read Isaiah 8:16, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” This proves that the seal is connected with the law. In fact, His law is sealed among the disciples of God. But where is the law actually placed upon those who are faithful? The answer is found in Hebrews 10:16, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”
This, then, is how the Lord’s seal is placed on the disciples. It is written on their minds or, symbolically, on their foreheads. Proverbs 7:2, 3 makes it even plainer: “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.The law, you see, is observed both by the hand and in the mind; thus, it is spoken of as being applied to the hand and forehead….”
The Sign of God’s Authority
“The Sabbath is a memorial of the creative power that distinguishes Him from the false gods.”
The Seal in the Law
“…the Sabbath is the seal of God-the mark of the only one who can create and who is authorized to rule the earth. And to make His law authoritative, He has placed the seal in it, showing that He stands behind every single commandment in that law.”
Seal and Mark in Competition
“Let us see what the relation is between the seal of God and the mark of the beast. The two things are in competition with each other. In Revelation 14:9, 10, the third angel’s message portrays those who have the mark: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast 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, 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.”In verse twelve we have another group identified by these words, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” In other words, those who keep the commandments of God do not have the mark of the beast and those who have the mark of the beast do _not obey the commandments of God. The Ten Commandments, containing the seal of God, are set up in competition with the mark of the beast. The seal is the Sabbath; therefore, the Sabbath is opposed to the mark. Then what is the mark?”
Mark Enforced
“The world is rapidly approaching the time when God’s Sabbath becomes a great test of obedience. Its claims will be placed before all earth’s inhabitants. At that time, when the issues stand clearly revealed, individuals will accept the seal of God or the mark of the beast….”
Let’s analyse this properly because one can be fooled by Mr Crews ridiculous notion and actually think you need to start keeping the Sabbath otherwise Jesus is going to reject you.
1) What is the Seal of God?
The seal of God is none other than the Holy Spirit. “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:22) and (2 Corinthiansc5:5 and Ephesians 1:13-14;4:30) The Holy Spirit is referred to as the “seal”, “deposit” and “earnest” (The Greek word arrhabÅ for “earnest” means “a pledge”). The Holy Spirit comes to abide in all believers the moment they are genuinely saved (justification). The Holy Spirit seals us and because of this seal we can be assured of our salvation. No one can pluck you out of God’s hand “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) God then renews and sanctifies us through His Holy Spirit.
2) You can’t be under grace and law at the same time:
Joe Crews aptly quotes the following scripture “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” (Hebrews 10:16) and then twists the scripture and applies it to the Sabbath day instead of the Holy Spirit. The 10 commandments are written into our hearts and into our minds when we get saved and the Holy Spirit seals us. As a Christian these commandments are now ingrained into your mind and heart and you will keep them.
3) Jesus is our Sabbath rest:
Jesus says; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
Jesus is ‘Lord of the Sabbath day‘ (Matthew 12:8). You see Jesus came to seek and save lost sheep who would hear His voice (John 10:3, 27) so when the Pharisees criticized Him for healing a man on a Sabbath day, Jesus reminded them, that they would not think twice to pull a sheep out of a pit on a Sabbath day. Because Jesus created the Sabbath day he He could break the Sabbath rules and change them permanently.So Jesus informed the Pharisees that people are more important than sheep and the salvation He provided was more important than rules. We now enter into the Sabbath rest He provided by paying for our sins. “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:” (Mark 2:27 )
Jesus came to relieve us from our attempt at achieving salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only one day, but cease forever our at working to obtain God’s favour. Jesus is our Sabbath, He is our rest now, He is our rest from works forever.
Do not reject God’s Sabbath through Jesus Christ. There is no rest outside Jesus Christ, and no works can satisfy or provide relief. See more at: http://www.discerningtheworld.com/2013/07/07/jesus-christ-is-our-sabbath-rest
4) Keeping the law:
The bible is very clear on this issue, it’s God’s grace and grace alone which is a blessing, or the law and if you want to keep the law you are cursed:
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
During the time of Moses there were covenant laws that God made for His people. The Law would point out all mans short comings with God, but it could not make a man righteous. In the Old Testament, the curse would be the penalty imposed for not keeping the law. In the above passage in the New Testament the apostle Paul is telling everyone that those who do not keep the Law perfectly are cursed but worst of all no man can keep God’s Law perfectly – so you are doomed if you try. There are over 600 Jewish laws that need to be kept 100% right in God’s sight. If you insist on keeping one Law you are commanded by Law keep them all. Break one commandment and you fall under condemnation.
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
We are free from the Law because Jesus Christ replaced the lamb sacrifice and shed His blood for our sins and we believe by faith NOT works. You are now under God’s grace, no longer are you under Law.
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Who is Joe Crews and Amazing Facts:
The website Amazing facts disguises itself quite nicely as a Christian website. No where on their site, that I could find, do they state they are actually Seventh-day Adventists. But go to Wikipedia and you find out that is exactly what they are. Beware of Amazing Facts and Amazing Discoveries (Walter Veith and Victor Gill)
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Please note Seventh-day Adventists do not believe in a rapture of the body of Christ before the tribulation starts. They believe they are going to go through the tribulation and suffer under God’s wrath. Seventh-day Adventists follow the heretical teachings of their prophetess called Ellen G White.
What’s the point in keeping the Sabbath (Saturday in stead of Sunday) when there is no hell?
Well, at least they have one thing correct – Seventh Day Adventists are going to experience God’s wrath in the tribulation. Why? Because they are not part of the Bride of Jesus Christ. They are following another Jesus who proclaims another gospel in the power of a different spirit.
Hi Deborah. Just dropped in to let you know I’ve been here to read your article like you suggested.
This same thing is taught–or was taught–in the Wordwide Church of God, under Herbert W. Armstong’s “apostleship.” (Seriously HWA, when he ran WCG called himself “God’s only true living apostle.” Since Armstrong’s death, many of the WCG doctrines were changed. All their breakaway groups retain most of his beliefs, such as Sunday-keeping for Christians being the Mark of the Beast.
The Bible makes it clear to us that the Mark of the Beast is at a certain time, so all the Christians throughout history who worshipped on the Lord’s Day rather than the Sabbath could not have been taking the Mark of the Beast.
In that sense, Mr Crews seems to distance himself from the Armstongites. (Armstrong blatantly plagiarized from the Adventists and the JWs.) Crew does put the Mark of the Beast at a certain time.
So, if it is at a certain time–and the Bible says it is–why should it be at a certain time and not prior to that. Why would it be okay for Christians to worship then and not not during the Great Tribulation?
Martin
>> So, if it is at a certain time–and the Bible says it is–why should it be at a certain time and not prior to that. Why would it be okay for Christians to worship then and not not during the Great Tribulation?
Exactly!
Hi, came across this site looking for info on the teachings of At Boshoff(CRC), as I am after truth in our churches today. I have found this website to be helpful to discerning some truth. How ever looking at the domination’s today the Seventh Day Adventist’s has more truth that the rest. They have received so much criticism(persecution) for believing plain basic truths, and people just write them off as a cult before investigating for themselves. Their doctrines are first that they have the faith of Jesus which is SDA’s most important doctrine and they believe the christian should obey the Law(10 commandments not the law of Moses), another important doctrine is that Hell is not like the pagans would Christians have believe that it is forever and ever but the wicked will be annihilated as the soul cant live forever and ever as the wages of sin is death.
The anti-christ has long been identified as the papacy. Who instituted Sunday as a day of worshiping God? The papacy did!(do online research) Why would the papacy who is the enemy of Jesus Christ change the day of worship from the true Sabbath which is Saturday to Sunday? Has it anything to do with worshiping the sun and in doing that worship satan? Even the name of the day points to the sun, and we know all through the ages people opposing God worshiped the sun(Egiptions, Baal etc).
Another point I want to make is, is the churches of today discard the 10 commandment and thus they cant use it to punish or chastise the members of the church when things like adultery etc is going on. And I am not saying, and the SDA is not saying you cant be saved by works No only by believing on Jesus can you be saved.
Satan has infiltrated the SDA church and I believe the head of the SDA church is now a Jesuit priest working for the papacy.
As for Ellen G White she was Christ like in every way, not without sin but a true christian, gave her live for reaching the lost and exalting Jesus Christ. It is a theme in all her books.
Werner,
Me thinks you are deceived.
Werner
Please show me exactly why you think the 7th Day Adventists are correct. Starting off you can tell me why you think Prophetess Ellen G White is biblical.
Thank you
Check/ Please pray over this and then read John 14:26 :read:
God bless you all .
Brother Robert
Are you suggesting that the Holy Spirit is the One who indicts those who keep Sundays holy as having the mark of the beast? The mark of the beast will only be given to those who worship Antichrist during the Great Tribulation, not now.
Hi Tom ,
No not at all .
I just meant that we need to seek the Lord Jesus for our understanding ,
” But the comforter ,which is the Holy Ghost , whom the Father will send in my name ,he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance , whatsoever I said unto you ” John 14:26 .
I have visited many seventh day churches and they teach more truth than most churches , BUT they are sadly mistaken when it comes to the rest of what they teach . Remember the SDA church is divided within.
This is precisely why I quoted our God’s word above.
As Christians it is our duty and responsibility to get this right and the ONLY way we can is by calling on the name of Jesus for our every need.
Please remember that it is absolutely critical at this time that we are praying for the understanding of the “MARK , NAME AND NUMBER OF THE BEAST “.
There is a reason why we only see this mentioned briefly in the Holy Bible and that reason is that we need to wake up and pay attention because time is running out on this old world fast , :read:
Dear Brother Robert
You said “I have visited many seventh day churches”
Why are you visiting SDA churches?
You said “I have visited many seventh day churches and they teach more truth than most churches”… then you go on to say “BUT they are sadly mistaken when it comes to the rest of what they teach.”
Here is proof the entire church is completely FALSE:
Dear Brother Robert, please let me know what the SDA church is divided on?
Regarding the Mark of the Beast. Christians (The bride of Christ) will be raptured before Tribulation starts. The Mark of the Beast is imposed on the world during the 2nd half of the Trib, during the start of the 2nd 3.5 years. Bible is clear, it’s a MARK on the hand or forehead. And the world will know EXACTLY what it is, it wont be something hidden to fool people into taking it. It’s a decision you will have to make – take the mark and you can buy and sell and live, or don’t take it and starve etc or be killed. I said in an article here:
See Toms Lessing’s article here where the SDA partner with Rome: https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2017/07/21/the-shack-william-paul-young-part-2/ Scroll down to heading: “PAPA & SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS”
If you are in the SDA church Brother Robert, please come out of the SDA church.
Hello Deborah — I found you just by searching on the differences between 7 and 9 menorah branches — I have begun attending a congregation for both Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus as Messiah, as a gentile practicing on Sabbath. We understand Matthew 5 (may be read in entirety) that we should still try to please and glorify our Father in heaven by keeping the law, while understanding, we cannot in our human frailty do so, which is very reason we need Messiah, only by grace through our Saviour can we enter the kingdom of heaven. My congregation is not tied to Jonathan Cahn or any mystical Jewish beliefs. Only the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testament. They are not separate. All are divinely inspired word of God. Some of what you shared would imply my practicing on Sabbath and following commandments and laws which apply to me as a gentile woman would not be biblical, can you please share supporting scripture.
Thank you.
Hi Patsy, Paul deals with the Law, mainly in his epistle to the Galatians. In fact, your statement “We understand Matthew 5 (may be read in entirety) that we should still try to please and glorify our Father in heaven by keeping the law, while understanding, we cannot in our human frailty do so, which is very reason we need Messiah, . . . The very fact that you are trying to keep the Law, even with the help of Messiah, is ample proof that you cannot possibly keep the Law. Jesus was not sent by his Father to help us or assist us in keeping the Law? He was sent to deliver us from the curse of the Law. Why would God the Father demand of us to keep his Law when his Son has already fulfilled the Law? OR, to help us maintain the curse of the Law?
Why would you want to perpetuate a curse when Christ has already ended it, has made it of null effect for all those who believe in Him?
Listen to Paul:
Anyone who tries to keep the Law, even with the help of the Messiah, is in effect denying that Christ was made a curse for us in order to redeem us from the curse of the Law. In fact, Paul says, they have fallen from grace.