Earlier text: With Our InquirersThe Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast
[We have used the American Standard Revised Version in this reading, because it brings out more clearly the Lord's name—Jehovah. All our readers, doubtless, have the common version.] 1. How extensive is God's government? "Jehovah hath established His throne in the heavens; and HIS KINGDOM RULETH OVER ALL." Ps. 103:19. 2. What is said of the law of His government? "The LAW of Jehovah is PERFECT, restoring the soul." Ps. 19:7. "The LAW is HOLY, and the commandment HOLY, and RIGHTEOUS, and GOOD." Rom. 7:12. 3. Where did God write this law? "And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there; and I will give thee the TABLES OF STONE, and THE LAW and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them." Ex. 24:12. 4. What was "the law" on the tables of stone? "And he wrote on the tables . . . the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which JEHOVAH SPAKE unto you in the MOUNT OUT OF THE MIDST of the fire in the day of the assembly." Deut. 10:4. See Ex. 20:1-17. 5. Where else does God desire to write His law? "I will put My law IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, and in THEIR HEART will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Jer. 31:33. 6. By what is the law authenticated? By the SEAL of the law-making power, an instrument connected with a signature, by which a legal document is authenticated and made valid and effective. It must include the NAME, the TITLE, and the AUTHORITY, of the one who uses it. The authorization of a law or proclamation of the governor of New York would include his name—Charles E. Hughes; his title—governor; the extent of his jurisdiction—the state of New York: Charles E. Hughes, Governor of the state of New York. So the letters of Mordecai to be authority were written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring, upon which was the device. Esther 8:8; 3:12. See also 1 Kings 21:8. A seal thus becomes a MARK of identification, a SIGN of the authority of him to whom the seal belongs, and is always connected with law or legal document. So the MARK or SIGN of circumcision was a SEAL of the righteousness of the faith of Abraham. Rom. 4:11. "Having the SEAL of the living God." Rev. 7:2. 8. Where is this seal impressed? "Sealed the servants of our God on their FOREHEADS." "And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand." Rev. 7:3, 4. 9. How else is this company described? "And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the Mount Zion; and with Him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having HIS NAME, and the NAME of HIS FATHER, written on their foreheads." Rev. 14:1. NOTE.—Slaves were formerly branded on their hand or forehead. God is represented as making His mark in the forehead, the seat of intellect, indicating a willing, hearty reception of His name and character. Rev. 7:1-3 describes the work; Rev. 14:1-5 describes the finished product, forever sealed with God's name and character. Those sealed are His servants, those who do His commandments. The Distinctive Characteristic of the True God.
10. What is ever the distinguishing feature of the true God in contradistinction to the false? CREATIVE POWER: "For all the gods of the nations are idols; but JEHOVAH made the HEAVENS." Ps. 96:5. "But Jehovah is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The GODS that have NOT MADE THE HEAVENS and the EARTH, even THEY shall PERISH from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by HIS POWER, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion." Jer. 10:10-12. See also Isa. 45:18; Acts 14:15, 16; 17:23-28. 11. What plea does the Gospel make for our worship? "Fear God, and give Him glory; . . . and WORSHIP HIM THAT MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH and sea and fountains of waters." See Rev. 14:6, 7. The Memorial of His Creative Power.
12. Would God have us forget this distinguishing mark of His Godhead? "He hath made HIS WONDERFUL WORKS to be REMEMBERED: Jehovah is gracious and merciful." Ps. 111:4. 13. In what power alone is our hope of redemption? "For we are His workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus for good works." Eph. 2:10. 14. What part of God's law presents this distinguishing creative characteristic of its Author? "REMEMBER the SABBATH DAY, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the SEVENTH DAY is a Sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: FOR in six days JEHOVAH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: WHEREFORE Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:8-11. NOTE.—It will be seen from the above scriptures that CREATIVE power is the one distinguishing characteristic of the TRUE GOD, and that in that power exercised in redemption is our only hope. Only by RECREATION are we REDEEMED and SAVED. Therefore, to inspire hope in His children, God has made His wonderful works to be remembered; and He has placed this memorial in the very heart of His holy law. That Sabbath precept reveals the name of the true God—JEHOVAH; His distinguishing characteristic and authority—CREATOR; the extent of His jurisdiction—HEAVEN AND EARTH. The Sabbath precept is therefore preeminently and emphatically the SEAL OF HIS LAW. Sign of His Redeeming, Sanctifying Power.
15. Of what does it therefore become to His people a twofold sign? "And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between Me and you, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD." Eze. 20:20. "I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a SIGN between Me and them, that they might KNOW that I AM JEHOVAH THAT SANCTIFIETH THEM." Eze. 20:12. NOTE.—He who truly keeps God's Sabbath precept, he who truly knows God's rest, remembers it thruout the entire week. "Remember the Sabbath day [in order] to keep it holy." His work, his business, is planned with that in view. Ever before him is the great, merciful Creator to redeem, forgive, restore, sanctify. The Sabbath is not merely the memorial of a work far past, but a constant sign and seal of a present work in his own soul. So it became to Israel—a memorial of God's creative power (Ex. 20:8-11) and a sign of their redemption from Egyptian slavery, darkness, and sin (Deut. 5:15). No substitute for God's Sabbath can be invested with all these mighty facts, these precious soul-saving truths. They do not fit the false. Both faith and sanctified reason demand the perpetuity of true Sabbath observance. Apostasy trampled these great truths underfoot; Christendom has been blinded to their importance; but now God calls everywhere to repentance. 16. How is this work of restoration in the last days predicted by the prophet? "BIND thou up the TESTIMONY, SEAL the LAW among MY DISCIPLES. And I will WAIT for JEHOVAH, that hideth His face from the7 house of Jacob, and I WILL LOOK FOR HIM." Isa. 8:16, 17. NOTE.—Read verses 13 to 18. Compare with Luke 2:34; Rom. 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8; Heb. 2:13, and note that it is a prophecy of application in the Christian dispensation. It has application to a time when the testimony of God's law has been broken, when the disciples of Christ have lost sight of the seal of His law, when they are looking for His appearing. It is a last-day prophecy in which God will bring back His children into the fullest knowledge and harmony of His law. 17. Where is this same work predicted in the New Testament? "And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD; and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have SEALED the SERVANTS of our GOD on their foreheads." Rev. 7:2, 3. Read verses 1-4; Rev. 14:1-5; 15:2, 3. NOTE.—When the four winds of strife and war are let loose we shall have the great, world-wide conflict of Armageddon, foretold in Jer. 25:15-38; Rev. 16:12-14; Joel 3:9-13. Men think that war is stayed thru their little schemes and plans, but God's angels are holding the winds of universal strife until His work is done, and His servants are sealed. The seal is said to be on the forehead, as that is the seat of intellect, showing an intelligent acceptance of allegiance to God. 18. Upon what class of people will God place the mark of safety, the stamp of His character? "And Jehovah said unto him [the angel], Go thru the midst of the city, thru the midst of Jerusalem, and set a MARK UPON THE FOREHEADS OF THE MEN THAT SIGH AND THAT CRY OVER ALL THE ABOMINATIONS that are done in the midst thereof." Eze. 9:4. NOTE.—Read from chapter 8:1 to 9:11. Israel had gone into grossest idolatry, the chief of which was sun-worship. God seeks to bring them back to His true worship, and seals with His seal those who weep over sin and turn from it. Upon those who do not, His just wrath falls. This is typical of the sealing work and the plagues of judgment of the last days. Rev. 7:1-8; 15:2, 3; 16. 19. How is this work of last-day Sabbath reform elsewhere predicted? "Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that KEEPETH THE SABBATH FROM POLLUTING it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." Isa. 56:1, 2. Note that the "stranger," those not of Israel, are included among those blessed by turning to the Sabbath. NOTE.—The whole 58th chapter of Isaiah is a chapter of true Sabbath-keeping. It is a message to a backslidden church which follows forms of worship. Thus it opens: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show MY PEOPLE THEIR TRANSGRESSION, and the house of Jacob their sins." It points out their transgression and sins, and God's gracious promises to those who return, and then declares that those who heed His message will restore truth trodden down, and come back to His holy Sabbath. "And they that shall be of thee shall BUILD THE OLD WASTE PLACES: thou shalt RAISE UP the FOUNDATIONS of MANY GENERATIONS; and thou shalt be called The REPAIRER of the BREACH, The RESTORER of PATHS to dwell in. IF THOU TURN AWAY THY FOOT FROM THE SABBATH, from doing thy pleasure on MY HOLY DAY; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Verses 12-14. 1. By what term is that combination of apostate powers against God's work characterized? "A BEAST . . . having seven heads, . . . and upon his heads NAMES OF BLASPHEMY. . . . And he opened his mouth for BLASPHEMIES AGAINST GOD, to BLASPHEME HIS NAME, and His tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven. . . . And all that dwell on the earth shall WORSHIP HIM, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain." Rev. 13:1-8. 2. What does worship imply? Service, obedience: "Thou shalt WORSHIP the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou SERVE." Matt. 4:10. 3. What mark, or badge, or seal, of service will apostasy seek to enforce? "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:16, 17. NOTE.—We will not, nor can we in this issue, take the space to define the beast or the image of the beast. See the SIGNS of Feb. 12, 1908. Suffice to say that the beast represents the apostate powers of the Old World, centering in the latter days in the system of the Papacy; and that the two-horned beast and the image it forms is apostate Protestantism in the New World, turning the world itself back to the apostasy of the Papacy. The beast and its image demand worship, obedience, service. God demands worship, obedience, service. The beast is willing that the service shall be willing or nominal, the mind or the hand; God demands that His service shall be willing service only. Therefore apostasy stamps its mark on the forehead or in the hand; while God places His seal or mark on the forehead alone. Needless to say these are not visible marks, but symbols of worship, service. It is clear, too, that the respective "marks," or distinguishing characteristics of worship or service of God and the beast, will be the difference of conduct, consequent upon obedience to different commands. Obedience to like commands will not distinguish8 the one class from another. Obedience to opposite commands will distinguish the two classes of worshipers. 4. What have we learned God's distinguishing mark to be? 5. In what part of His law is this recognized? 6. What does that commandment require? "Remember the SABBATH DAY, to keep it holy. . . . The SEVENTH day is the SABBATH." 7. How does the teaching of the Papacy differ from this? "Ques.—Say the third [our fourth] commandment. "Ans.—'Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.' "Q.—What is commanded by the third commandment? "A.—To SPEND THE SUNDAY IN PRAYER and other religious duties."—Butler's Catechism. NOTE.—Now every one knows that nothing of the kind is commanded by the Sabbath precept, Roman Catholics as well as others. God says the SEVENTH day, and commands its observance. Apostasy says the FIRST day, Sunday, and commands its observance. It is very easily seen what the mark of distinction is between the worshipers of God and the beast power. 8. What do Roman Catholics claim this change to be which they have sought to make in God's law? The DISTINGUISHING MARK OF HER POWER. Read from their own authorities: Eusebius, a Church Father, Friend of Constantine: "All things whatsoever that it was duty to do on the Sabbath, these WE [Pope Sylvester, Eusebius, Constantine, et al] have transferred to the Lord's day [Sunday]" From the "Doctrinal Catechism": "Ques.—Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept? "Ans.—Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her,—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which THERE IS NO SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY. "Ques.—When Protestants do profane work upon Saturday, or the seventh day of the week, do they follow the Scripture as their only rule of faith?—do they find this permission clearly laid down in the Sacred Volume? "Ans.—On the contrary, they have only the authority of tradition for this practise. In profaning Saturday, they violate one of God's commandments, which He has never clearly abrogated,—'Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.'" From the "Abridgment of Christian Doctrine": "Ques.—How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? "Ans.—By the VERY ACT of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church." (See other and Protestant authorities quoted in the SIGNS of Feb. 26, 1908.) NOTE.—The Papacy boasts of the change she has made in the Sabbath as the MARK of her power; that the [Roman Catholic] church HATH POWER she declares is proved by "the VERY ACT of changing the Sabbath into Sunday." The Sunday—Lord's day, then, is the mark of the papal system, and if the Papacy be apostate, the Sunday is the mark of apostasy. Apostate Protestantism is acknowledging these claims, not in the quiet acquiescence of ignorance, but in loud demands that this mark of apostasy shall be enforced by law. From Apostate Protestantism.
This day [Sunday] is set apart for divine worship and preparation for another life. It is the TEST of all religion.—Dr. W. W. Everts, in Elgin (Ill.) Sunday Convention, November, 1887. The sabbath [Sunday] is the CORNERSTONE of Christ's kingdom. Let us recognize each recurring sabbath [Sunday] as the SIGN of God's covenant. By this SIGN the world largely judges the depth of our Christian character, and by this SIGN God judges us.—Mrs. J. C. Bateham, Sabbath Leaflet, No. 33. When the people, thru their representative, legalize the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK as a day of rest and of worship for those who choose so to observe it, it is the SIGN of the Christian nation.—From a Sermon Reported in the Christian Oracle, Jan. 12, 1893. For nothing were the noble men who planted true Christianity and an evangelical church in the wilderness, now constituting the United States, more distinguished than for their reverence for the sabbath [Sunday]. It is quite a prominent feature of their character—a sign between them and the heathen world around, and, to a large extent, it has continued to be a MARK OF AMERICAN RELIGION to the present day.—Rev. J. G. Lorimer, in Christian Treasury. In a large National Reform assembly at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Rev. Herrick Johnson, D.D., of Chicago presided. Rev. Joseph Smith, moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly (1894), presented the following resolution: "Resolved, That the fundamental principles of the National Reform Association . . . are true and scriptural principles, and that these principles must control our national life, or we shall perish. "Resolved, That the sabbath [the Sunday] is a SIGN between God and man, and its REVERENT observance a MARK OF THE NATION whose God is Jehovah." The Michigan "Christian Advocate" of Sept. 3, 1892, says of this convention: "There were present large numbers of very prominent leaders from different parts of the United States. These representative men from so wide a range of territory were unanimous in their agreement on the principles and measures set forth in the resolutions." Says the "Advance" (Congregationalist) of Aug. 2, 1894: "The sabbath [Sunday] serves the same purpose to-day as did the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden; a prohibition is laid upon it that men may not use it for their own pleasure. This prohibition is to test them and train them. It is designed continually to teach them reverence for law. That man is an anarchist at heart who deliberately flaunts at the sacredness of the sabbath [the Sunday], or sneers at any other distinct revelation of the law of God." In all these references to "the sabbath," the Sunday is referred to. God's Sabbath never sought human legislation, and if its devotees are Christians it never will. To call Sunday "the sabbath" does not make it so. 9. What, then, is the mark of apostasy? 10. What, then, is the mark of the beast, or apostasy clothed with civil power? THE SUNDAY ENFORCED BY LAW. 11. What is the reception of this mark of apostasy? (a) It is NOT the mere observance of Sunday; for thousands have kept the day in both Catholic and Protestant churches believing they were doing God's will, and God will justify the perfect heart and faith, not because they observed Sunday, but in spite of it. (b) It is not the mere keeping of Sunday as an individual, knowing it to be contrary to God's word. That would be apostasy, but not the reception of the mark of the beast. (c) The reception of the mark of the beast is, in the light of God's word and the Sabbath truth, to turn from that truth and yield allegiance to a MAN-MADE SABBATH ENFORCED BY MAN-MADE LAW IN OPPOSITION TO THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. That is the crisis not yet upon us in the sense of the prophecy, but toward which the world is forging with mighty strides. Men in heart are forcing the awful issue and demanding it, and when a foolishly blinded people and corrupt politicians shall grant the power, we will have the enforcement of the mark of the beast. 12. What warning has God uttered against this culmination of apostasy? "If any man WORSHIPETH THE BEAST and his IMAGE, and receiveth a MARK on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of His anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that WORSHIP THE BEAST and his IMAGE, and whoso receiveth THE MARK OF HIS NAME." Rev. 14:9-11. 13. How are those described who heed the message? "Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the FAITH OF JESUS." Verse 12. 14. What eternal victory do they thus gain? "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the VICTORY OVER THE BEAST, and OVER HIS IMAGE, and OVER HIS MARK, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee: for Thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15:2-4. THE following are the next verses to be considered in our study of the book of Romans: “Therefore, as thru one man sin entered into the world, and death thru sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned: for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of Him that was to come. But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many. “And not as thru one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification. For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned thru the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life thru the One, even Jesus Christ. So then as thru one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so thru one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. “For as thru the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so thru the obedience of the One shall the many be made righteous. And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign thru righteousness unto eternal life thru Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5: 12-21. The foregoing passage should be closely studied in order to get what it so strongly teaches. It will not be possible in these brief studies to tell all that might be written upon it, but it is hoped that something may be said that will lead the reader into still further and continued study of the great gems of truth in this wonderful book of Romans. The apostle makes the strongest part of his argument in these verses for the purpose of showing that it was thru one man that sin came into the world, and also that thru another Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, man has the way of salvation. Sin puts the man out of harmony with the very law of his being. God created the man to do right things only, and as soon as he began to do wrong things he himself sowed in his own body the seeds of decay and death. And hence death came as both a consequence and a penalty for sin. When Adam sinned in the beginning, he took upon himself the consequences of sin, and made it necessary for the death penalty to be passed upon him, just as the Lord told him would be the case. And being thus subject to death, all the posterity of Adam became subject to death also. “Death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression.” Note especially the following: “But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many. And not as thru one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.” Verses 15, 16. The form of expression in this passage is peculiarly strong, and also very soul-satisfying in helpfulness. The free gift is not as the trespass. The free gift is much stronger than the trespass. It was thru the trespass of the one that the many died. But God entered the arena at this critical juncture and caused His grace, and His gift by the grace of the one Man, to abound “much more.” Note particularly that the gift of God’s grace that brings salvation is much more abundant than the trespass. The trespass is bad; the trespass is very powerful, and very hard to break away from; but the gift of God’s grace is “more powerful. It is not merely more powerful, but it is “much more” powerful. God does not have just barely enough grace and power to save the sinner from the death that awaits him, but He has “much more” than enough. Then we are perfectly safe in trusting our cases to God for salvation. He has “much more” than enough power to save every one of us. He is the all-powerful God. The same thought of the abounding grace of God is still further emphasized: “And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign thru righteousness unto eternal life thru Jesus Christ our Lord.” Verses 20, 21. The Lord took the pains in Moses’ time to write the law out in plain characters, so that men could more closely study the principles that underlie all His moral government. And, after writing the law in this manner, He gave many additional precepts and illustrations to show the depth and breadth of His law. He showed that the law took cognizance, not merely of the outward acts of men, but that it went down to the depths of the very thoughts and motives of the heart; the law of God is deep enough and broad enough to go into the innermost recesses of the secret self, and to demand that the very roots of sin be taken away. This wonderful presentation of the law of God, this wonderful showing of the meaning of God’s moral government, made the sin to appear in its most abounding character. It was shown to its very depths. And as it was thus shown in its true light, the sinner would be subject to the discouraging idea that God might not be able to save him, his sins being so great. But when the sin was thus made to abound, the Lord also made His grace to “abound more exceedingly,” so that the sinner could have the substantial comfort that the power of his divine Father was more than equal to the task of his salvation. Such are a few of the gems that sparkle in the wonderful words quoted at the beginning of these paragraphs. Study the sacred text closely for all the other rich truths that our Father would reveal to us thru the statements that He has caused to be written for our salvation and comfort. T.