Worship

Knowing that we would not have a sermonette, and the announcements would be relatively short, that it would provide extra time for such a sermon cross Bible study as I have prepared here today. The title would be, The Greatest Issue in the Book of Revelation.

Of course, that would be subjective. It would be open for debate, but that's what I've titled it. What is at the center of the conflict between the dragon and the remnant in the Book of Revelation? The dragon who is Satan the devil and the remnant, I would consider to be, of course, the true church of God. You might also look at physical Israel as a part of the remnant, because some of physical Israel will live over into the millennium.

You read about Revelation 7 of the 12 tribes being sealed before the trumpet plagues. The final conflict centers on a single word that appears over and over again in chapters 13 and 14 of the Book of Revelation. That word is worship. Worship has to do with giving your total allegiance and obedience, and just totally surrendering in every facet of your being, and recognizing and realizing who God is, what God is, what is its purpose, and why you're here on the earth, and that you owe everything to Him.

Based on that, you worship Him. You give your total allegiance to Him. In Revelation 13, let's turn there. Most of the time we'll be in Revelation 13, 14, and 16. In Revelation 13, and we'll begin in verse 1. In Revelation 13, verse 1, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And the beast which I saw was, like unto a leopard, his feet were as the feet of a bear, his mouth as the mouth of a lion, the dragon gave him his power. So here's the dragon, and if the dragon is identified in Revelation 12, 9, that old dragon, Satan the devil. So we know the dragon is Satan. The dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority.

So this person is, in essence, that is the one who is the beast, and of course the false prophet with him, is energized and empowered by Satan the devil. And I saw, as it were, one of his heads wounded as unto death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. They marveled, what is this? This is so astounding that this system has been resurrected, and they worshipped the dragon. There's that word. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast, and who is able to make war with him.

Now in Revelation 13.8, we see this word again, and it comes to the point, here are the words of Almighty God as inspired and written down by the Apostle John, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of the life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. The Bible says that all shall worship him, all that dwell upon the earth, except those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. In Revelation 13 and verse 12, we see that the peoples of the earth are forced to worship the first beast, and he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, and caused the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Then in verse 15, and he had power to give unto the image of the beast, so now we have an image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as it would not worship, the image of the beast should be killed. So we see this word worship here over and over again in Revelation 13.

Now we go to Revelation 14. Eight times in chapters 13 and 14, attention is called to worship. It is a crucial word throughout this section of the book, the word worship. In Revelation 14, let's begin in verse 6. And I saw another angel fly into the midst of the heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on earth, and to every nation, kindred and tongue and people. So here's an angel that goes forth, a messenger, an angelos, evidently a powerful spirit being, goes forth preaching the everlasting gospel, and it says that it's to every nation, kindred and tongue and people.

And sometimes we wonder and worry about, well, how is the gospel going to be preached? Well, God will make sure that everyone has a witness of what the truth is, and a witness of who the true God really is. And note what he says in verse 7, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters. And we'll come back to this verse 7. Notice how that this is tied in with who the true God and who the true creator really is. He made the heavens and the earth.

And this is also related to the fourth commandment, as we shall see later on.

And there followed another angel, saying Babylon has fallen, fallen in that great city because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast, so there are warned in verse 7 to worship God who made the heavens and the earth. But if any man worship the beast in 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. So we see the commandment. There's just one commandment here to worship God, but the other six or seven references has to do with worship the beast. They worship the beast, and here in Revelation 14 they're warned not to worship the beast, and if they do, this is what's going to happen to them.

So at the end of the testing, the truth for the world is centered on the matter of whom are you going to worship? Remember this first angel goes forth to all kensors, all nations, and his warning is worship God who made heavens and earth in contrast to worshiping the beast and his system.

Worship that is acceptable to God has been at the center of man's relationship to God.

Once again, let's repeat that. Worship that is acceptable to God has been at the center of man's relationship to God, and this begins all the way back. If you'll go now to Genesis chapter 4, it begins back with Cain and Abel, where Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Eternal.

I'm not going to read all this. I'll read a little bit, but let's talk about it up front. As you know, Cain brought a thank offering, and perhaps Eve thought that Cain was the Messiah. Remember in Genesis 3.15 that a Messiah was promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of Satan the devil, and Satan the devil would bruise his heel, that is Jesus Christ, the prophesied Messiah. Satan did inspire the crucifixion of Christ, which turned out to be the worst thing he could have done because the plan of redemption was already planned. As we read from Revelation 13.8, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. In contrast, Abel brought an animal sacrifice, recognizing that he was a sinner. The way that you approached God, if you were a sinner and you recognized that you were a sinner before Jesus Christ, was through the offering of the blood of bulls and goats and animals. So we see in verse 4 that Cain brought the firstlings of the flock. And the Lord had respect, or he honored Abel in his offering. But Cain in his offering, he had not respect. Cain was very mad, and his countenance fell. The Lord said unto Cain, Why are you mad? And why has your countenance fallen? In the Bible, the firstborn was given the preeminence and had blessings above and beyond the other family members. And when the patriarch of the family died, the firstborn then would take up the mantle, as it were, and carry on the family name and tradition. And he would have the preeminence. And to a large degree, from Cain and Abel to the present day, that a lot of the problems that have been in the Church, continue to be in the Church, still centers on this. And it also goes back even farther than this in time to, of course, Satan's rebellion. He wanted the preeminence over God. And thus he led his rebellion and a third of the angels went with him. So verse 7, If you do well, shall you not be accepted?

And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him. Now, of course, there could be a dupliantandre there, a double meaning in that if you bring the right offering and you recognize that you are center and you repent before God, he is faithful and just, forgive us of all unrighteousness. And you can rule over sin through Jesus Christ in you, as it says in Romans 8, verses 1-6. Then on the other hand, it can also have to do with him having the preeminence over Abel, and he would rule over Abel because he is the firstborn. But Cain could not get over it. He could not get past it.

So he and his brother out in the field, and Cain slays his brother. And of course, you can slay your brother in many different ways. And one of the things, as we shall see from Matthew 24, one of the great tests that upon the people of God as this age winds down will have to do with personal relationships, especially among the brethren. So there are many parallels in all of this.

On Mount Carmel, you'll turn to 1 Kings 18, verse 6. We just highlight a few things about worship. Remember that worship that is acceptable to God has historically been at the center of man's relationship to God. Now, the pagans developed various worship systems of how they would approach unto God, and they worship basically the heavens, the moon, the sun, and the stars. 1 Kings chapter 16. I'm sorry, 1 Kings 18, verse 16. 1 Kings 18, verse 16. In 1 Kings 18, verse 16.

So Elijah was looking for Ahab, and he came upon this Obadiah, and he told Obadiah to go tell Ahab, I want to see him. And of course, Obadiah was shaking in his boots because he knew what Ahab thought of Elijah. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass that when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Are you he that troubles Israel? So Ahab heard about Elijah. And Elijah, much like John the Baptist, you know, John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, that Elijah was out there condemning and preaching the truth and saying, You people need to repent. John the Baptist came on the scene and did the same thing. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And so here's Elijah on the scene. Verse 18. Elijah answered, I've not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house, and that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed Balaam. Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel and the prophets of Baal, 450. The prophets of the groves. The groves were the trees upright. And of course, in the worship of Baal, the male fertility symbol is the paramount idol. And that's why you had the groves, the upright trees, the groves, 400, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab went unto the children of Israel, gathered the people together unto Mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, How long shall you halt between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him. And if Baal, then follow Him. And the people answered, not a word. Then Elijah said unto the people, I even I only remain a prophet of the eternal, and Baal's prophets are 450 men. So then he set up the confrontation with the sacrifices, and who would God honor? So the prophets of Baal, they wailed and danced and did all that they could to get their God to answer them. Their God never answered them. Elijah even set the stage more by pouring water, having the people pour water around the sacrifice. And then, verse 36, it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice that Elijah the prophet came near and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am the servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that these people may know that you are the Lord God, and that you have turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the eternal fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice in the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their face, and they said, the Lord, he is God. The Lord, he is God. So they worshipped God and fell on their faces. See, at the center of worship, and the center of worship has to do with this relationship with God. When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert and in the crucial issue, and temptation number three was, remember that Satan took Christ up on this mountain, showed him the kingdoms of the world, and said, I will give you the kingdoms of the world if you will bow down and worship me. See, once again, at the center of that was worship. Satan is on an insatiable quest to be worshipped, and Jesus responded, it is written that you shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone shall you worship. And so then Satan departed from him for a season. Paul warns us that those who love not the truth will be sent grand delusion, that they should believe a lie. Let's go to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 now. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.

To a large degree, it is about worship. Who are you going to give your loyalty and allegiance to? 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.

Verse 1, now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that you be not soon shaken in mine, or be troubled, whether by spirit, or by word, or by letter, as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand. So some were evidently circulating letters that Christ was just about to return again and upsetting people in various ways. And so Paul writes to clarify and to settle them. And he says in verse 3, Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come Anapostasia. Remember, there's no indefinite article in the Greek, and it literally means, unless there come the false teaching.

Basically, this false teaching that Paul is talking about is explained here now that the world is deceived, as we've already read from Revelation 13, into worshiping this false system, who opposes and exalts himself, that is, the man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. So for a season, as we've already read from Revelation 13, Satan realizes to some degree his long, lifelong, if we want to use the term, lifelong ambition, quest to be worshiped.

Then in verse 9, Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, the love of the truth where they knew and they knew that they knew God, who the true God is, and what true worship to him is all about. They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, and for this cause, what cause that they didn't receive the love of the truth, God shall send them strong delusion. So there comes a point in which God himself blinds them and that they should believe the lie. Once again, the indefinite article is the lie. That lie is Satan has deceived them into believing that the one who's sitting in the temple at that time is God, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth and had pleasure in unrighteousness. The focus of Satan's wrath in Revelation 12 verse 17, let's go there, and notice what the focus of Satan's wrath is on. After he is cast down, knowing that he has but a short season, he goes about with great wrath after he's cast down, and he pursues the woman that brought forth the man child, and he pursues the Church of God. They are identified who they are in Revelation 12 and verse 17.

Let's read 16. And the earth helped the woman. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. So Satan is trying to destroy him, and God supernaturally intervenes. And of course, we know that some are going to be protected from Satan's wrath. And the dragon was mad with a woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments and have the testimony of Christ. So the goal of the Antichrist is to control everything, religion, jobs, economics, politics, education, government, the police, the military, the banks, communication, entertainment. On the airplane, we had on the back of our seat these little screens. And they gave, whether you wanted it or not, of course, you didn't have to listen to it, but they gave previews of the movies that they would be showing or that are available or would be shown. And one of them was the last airbender, which is a takeoff on Avatar. And you look at this stuff, you don't even have to have the sound of all these grotesque figures and all of the fighting and chaos and confusion. And it's about who's going to rule the universe. Well, we have one last hope, and maybe it's the last airbender. I don't even know what that means. But anyhow, and there's just one after another of these weird things. And more and more, that's what Hollywood is about. Weirdness. I thought about, well, today, and maybe I'll give a sermon on the wild, weird, wacky world. Maybe that's for later, the wild, weird, wacky world. So, entertainment to have a cashless society controlled by this system. They came forth with a proposal just two or three weeks ago in the UK, in England, that they would send their checks to the government. And somehow the government would deduct their share, and then they would give it to you. Of course, the next step would be like you just have this card or whatever, and deduct it from that. So that you don't even have to have the cash. So, I have a little section here. We're coming back to Revelation because this is tied in with worship, this whole thing. They worship the beast and his system, and you cannot buy or sell unless you have the mark of the beast either in your forehead or on your hand. So, we'll be coming back. But let's talk a little bit about some of the things that are going on and have gone on, probably that you're not aware of, at least part of this.

Today's technology is tracking the movements of millions of animals using microchips the size of 1-20th of a grain of rice implanted in the skin with a small needle, holding information equivalent to 20,000 pages. Canada has approved it for cattle. The European community requires all livestock to be implanted with microchips, not just some. In Colorado Springs and other cities in the U.S., microchips are being placed in dogs and cats and replacing the age-old, what we used to call, dog tags. In a world where cash is eliminated and every financial translation or transaction is done electronically, not only the credit cards can be used, but also your microchip number.

They also have retinal readers, voice recognition systems, and signatory dynamics.

Some of these have been used at various airports for screening. Speaking of airports, that's another nightmare as well. I always get beeped and I get the full treatment because I have a hip replacement titanium and they think for sure they've got you. But anyhow, in front of me was a woman. She must have been about 90 years old. She was really bent over, very frail, had on a sweater, and had her children there helping her through. But she had to do the whole thing. She had to take off her sweater. When she went through, she was beeped. She had to go through the whole thing of the device, metal detector, pat down, and all of that. And we have the peoples of the world have brought this on themselves because they refuse to honor and obey the great commandments of God. Now these chips that they can implant don't need batteries. They have a little coil and a pre-programmed number all encapsulated in glass. They can be inserted under your skin with a special hypodermic needle. It won't get infected and you would hardly know it's there. But screening and scanning devices will know that it's there. It could be used to tie into your bank accounts or whatever they want to do with it. In the future, they could perfect this so that it can actually be your smart card. So you just scan that. It's deducted from whatever you have in the so-called bank. You know, I joke sometimes with the tellers at the bank when I say, well, I'd like to know the balance in my savings account. And they come back with a figure and I say, well, you got that money right back there in the bank, don't you? And they sort of wryly smile because they know there's not a cent of it there. It's just an entry on a book. Just an entry on a book.

In a world where cash is eliminated and every financial transaction is done electronically, not only the credit cards can be used, but also your microchip number and the other things that we've talked about. In 1935, this is a bit of the history I didn't know until I did some research on this. In 1935, during the days of the Great Depression, FDR was the president, the one who so-called brought us out of the Great Depression through the Great Works Program. And I know during that time, even in the late 30s, that my dad was so, he was farming, had a third grade education, he was so thankful to get a job in the summertime after the crops were laid by on what they called the WPA, the Works Progress Administration. He'd get on the old bike and pedal down to wherever they were working, usually on the highway, and cut right away in whatever else they had to do for two dollars a day. Well, that was a pretty good wage before, but earlier in the Depression, in the early 30s, he and his brother hopped a freight train in Laurel, Mississippi. They wound up in Omaha, Nebraska, where they got a job in a restaurant washing dishes, and they've got their meals 50 cents a day. And my uncle, Uncle Britt, he continued. My dad eventually came back to Mississippi, and Uncle Britt, he continued west, and he wound up in Aberdeen, Washington, where he spent the rest of his life. We don't know much about some of the hard times that people have suffered, but the unemployment rate continues to go up, and there are many hardships that so many people are suffering right now. But anyhow, back to this, in 1935, the Social Security Program was enacted as a simple retirement system to be funded by payroll contributions or payroll deductions. But in 1974, the Senate Finance Committee voted to issue a Social Security card to every child entering the first grade. That was in 1974. Time Magazine of March 13, 1972, commenting on the, this is night, it's night 1972, it's a little later, Time Magazine commenting on the action said on page 16, such a system would further enable the government to amass information on citizens and store it in a central computer under a single identification number. You basically can't do anything now without your Social Security number. You can't get a driver's license, you can't get a loan, I mean, you just can't have a bank account, it just goes on and on. Then in 1989, a law was passed that every child over two years of age must have a Social Security number to qualify as a dependent on tax returns. 1989. Now a program has been implemented that when the baby is born, the hospital will automatically apply for the Social Security number. The name of the program is enumeration at birth. To enumerate means to assign a number. The mark of the beast will have probably a combination of two components.

I'm not talking about what causes it, I'm just talking about the mark itself. I'm not talking about whether or not it's Sunday observance, more about that later. A physical means of identification is indicated by that no man might buy or sell, say he had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name, so there has to be a way that they can identify it.

And it will have a religious spiritual basis. Now in Revelation 13, I don't know if you're there or not, let's go to Revelation 13 again.

In Revelation 13, and we're going to read all the way from 12 down through again. We didn't read all of it last time. Revelation 13, 12, he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, caused the earth, and then which dwelled therein, to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.

He did great wonders so that he makes fire come down from heaven and the earth in the sight of men.

So miracles are not necessarily a sign that is from God. He deceives them to dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do and the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. He had power to give life under the image of the beast. And you can look at the word life and see that it means, just what it says, life, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as it would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. So it's tied to religion. It's tied to worship. If you don't have this and worship the beast, then you're marked for being killed.

And he causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads that no man might by our sell save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. And here is wisdom, number 666.

In the final analysis, their worship is the mark by which they are identified. In other words, if you don't worship the beast, then you get killed. Those who refuse to worship will be exposed by their refusal to perform the idolatrous act of worshiping the beast. The mark of the beast is not necessarily a visible writing, just as the seal of God's servants is not done in writing. Look at Ezekiel chapter 9. We see that some people are sealed here. Ezekiel chapter 9. This is, quote, a good sealing, similar to the one we'll read about in Revelation chapter 7. In Ezekiel chapter 9. So hold on, stay with it, and I think we'll learn quite a bit here today. In Revelation chapter 9, Ezekiel is given this vision back at Jerusalem of what's going on there, that they are worshiping false gods. I mean just blatantly worshiping false gods in the temple, and it's being led by what's called the princes, and sometimes the princes are referred to as the religious leaders. So in view of that, he tells them what to do.

In Ezekiel 9 and verse 5, and to the others he said in mine hearing, go after him through the city, and smite, let not your eyes spare, neither have you pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark that began at my sanctuary.

Now we go back to verse 2. And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lies toward the north, and every man slaughtered weapon in his hand, and one of the men among them was clothed with linen. Remember that linen is symbolic of the righteousness of the saints with a rider's inkhorn by his side. And they went in and stood beside the brazen altar, and the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the carob, whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the rider's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. So there were some who were sighing and crying about this. And then when it came time to take care of, that is to do away with, the religious leaders of the day, which they would be somewhat symbolic of the beast system at that time, forcing false worship, that those that had God's mark upon them, those who worship the true God, those who were faithful to the true God, were spared. In contrast, those who follow God have their father's name written in their forehead. Now let's go back to Revelation chapter 14. In Revelation chapter 7, you have a ceiling of 144,000. And then in Revelation 14, we'll notice 144,000 mentioned again, and notice what it says about their foreheads. Revelation 14.1.

And I looked and lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Zion.

Mount Zion, remember Paul says in Hebrews 12.22 that you've come to the city of the living God, the Jerusalem above, the Mount Zion. The Lamb stood on the Mount Zion. Of course, there's literally a place called Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 having His Father's name written in their forehead. Now we want to go back to Revelation 12 and verse 17. Remember that we read Revelation 12.17, and it identified those with whom Satan was very mad. Revelation 12.17 again. And the dragon was mad, angry, was wroth with a woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed. Remember this conflict between the dragon and the remnant. It's over worship. Went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. So they have the commandments of God, they keep the commandments of God, and they have the testimony of Jesus Christ. What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? Now the Greek word for testimony is maturia, M-A-T-U-R-I-A, and it means a witness or a record. Here's what Strong says, a testifying, the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events, what one testifies before a judge. So it has to do with giving a true witness of who Jesus Christ really is, that he is the Savior. He is the only name given under heaven, whereby men must be saved. Now these characteristics are echoed in Revelation 14.12. So let's look at Revelation 14.12. In Revelation 14.12, here is the patience of the saints, the remnant, the true believers. Here's the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God, similar to Revelation 12.17. And in Revelation 12.17, it says they have the testimony of Jesus Christ, the record, the witness, and they bear witness to that, and faith in Jesus. In both of these verses, the remnant at the end of the age is made up of people who obey God's commandments and worship the true God. Obey God's commandments and worship the true God. This characterization of the remnant implies that commandments of God will somehow be an issue between God's faithful people and those who are deceived. Those who Satan met with, those who have the commandments of God in the testimony of Christ, who are Satan met with, those who obey the commandments and have faith in Jesus. So, an issue here has to do with the commandments and those who are willing to obey, committed to obeying, committed to worshiping God.

But which of the commandments seems to be at issue with in the overall sense? Now, we know that all of them are very important, but which are more at issue in this particular case.

And then we'll talk about also what's at issue for us at the present time.

Many of the commandments, such as the prohibition against stealing or murder, is basically acknowledged by most civilized countries around the world. Nearly every civilized country will have a law against stealing and against murder.

Some countries allow more than one wife, so they don't necessarily have a law against adultery. Most countries will have laws that are common to the Ten Commandments, especially in the sense of just civil obedience.

But revelation there is the focus of conflict to one or more commandments in particular, and I believe we'll see this as the case as we go along. Does the focus on worship call our attention to any commandments in particular?

Now, the first four commandments have been called the first table of the law. You shall have no other gods before you. You shall not make unto yourself any graven image. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The relationship to God. The first four commandments are often called the first table of the law, and then the last six, dealing to a large degree with a relationship with our neighbor, our parents, brethren, and so on, are called the second table of the law. But the first table of the law, those first four commandments, are directly tied to the worship of God.

It should be no surprise, therefore, that the unholy triad of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, described in Revelation 13, try to deceive us, especially on the first four commandments. You shall have no other God before you. So one sits in the temple of God, saying that he is God. You shall not make unto you any graven image, but in Revelation 13, they are commanded to make an image to the beast.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, but they call on another God, not the true God.

And you shall remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. So what if, and many speculate that this might be the case, what if they enforce Sunday worship and you are forbidden to keep the Sabbath, then you strike at the very identity of the great creator God, because God as the great creator is identified intimately with the Sabbath. Creation and the Sabbath. In fact, the Sabbath is often called a memorial of creation.

So they try, that is, the system tries to enforce obedience to a counterfeit first table of the law.

First commandment, once again, you'll have no other gods before me. Now back to Revelation 13. Revelation 13 verse 4, you shall have no other gods before me. Revelation 13.4, they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, and they worshiped the beast. So they have another God before the true God.

Revelation 13.8, and all that dwell upon the earth worship him, whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

So, once again, they worship a false God. They have another God in this place. The second command warns against the worship of images. You shall not make any unigraven image. So we look at Revelation 13 verse 14, that they should make an image to the beast.

The last part of 15, as many as would not worship the image of the beast, would be killed.

The third commandment says, you will not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Look at Revelation 13.5.

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue forty-two months, and he opened his mouth and blasphemed against God, taking his name in vain to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

The fourth commandment says, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Ancient Covenant tablets contrast documents and contract documents. In other words, things that were binding in the legal sense were stamped in the center with a seal of ownership and authority. So we're talking about a sign or a seal.

Since the Ten Commandments follow the form of ancient covenant tablets, we should not be surprised to find that they too have a seal of ownership and authority in the center, the Sabbath command.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is. So right there, the true God, his seal is set upon the seventh day, but he rested on the Sabbath day.

Therefore, the Lord God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Now look at Genesis chapter 2, and we'll see you back from the time of what we called the restoration, repairing Satan's rebellion and all that, preparing everything for man. But this goes back to the creation itself. Genesis 2 verse 1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

And on the seventh day God rested his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day.

And that word rested is interesting. You might want to look it up. Sabatis Mos, having to do with, and some render it as, kept Sabbath. He kept Sabbath on the seventh day from all his work which he had made, and God blessed the seventh day. See, from creation. And it identifies him as the Creator. It's like the seal of his authority. And he sanctified it because that in it he had rested, he kept Sabbath, from all his work which God created and made. See, the above statement, that is, that God is the Creator, as in the fourth commandment, is the only place in the ten commandments where the basis of God's authority over all creation is given. God is identified as a Creator in the fourth commandment. If he is a Creator, and he made everything, and you and I, it seems to me, he would have the authority to say, this is the way walk you in it. And which day you should rest on, and which day you should work on, and everything else that has to do with your relationship with him. Now we go to Exodus 31. The concept of a seal, the concept of a seal, is very important to God. Exodus 31. Exodus 31 and verse 13. Exodus 31 verse 13.

Exodus 31 verse 13. Saying, speak you unto the children of Israel, saying, God talking to Moses, Verily, my Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the eternal that does set you apart, that does sanctify you. Verse 16.

For in six days, see, once again, it's linked to creation. For in six days the Lord had made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. So the word here in Hebrew of sign is spelled O-W-T-H. It should spell oath. I mean, pronounced oath. It has to do with a signal, a distinguishing mark, a banner, a remembrance, a miraculous sign, a warning, a token, a standard, a miracle, a proof.

Note also in the book of Revelation. Let's go to Revelation again, chapter 7. Revelation chapter 7.

Revelation chapter 7. We'll see this word about seal.

In Revelation 6, we see that the seven seals are opened, and just before the seventh seal is opened and the trumpet plagues begin, God says before we unleash the seven trumpet plagues, I have something that I want you to do.

Revelation 7.1, and after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel standing from the east having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud 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 in their foreheads.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Now, we know, contrary to what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach, now the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there are basically four classes of people that will be in the kingdom of God, 144,000, of course, would be the top class, and then it comes down from that. But we know that 144,000 are not the only ones. You look at verse 9.

And after this, after the sealing of the 144,000, verse 9, I beheld and loa great multitude, which no man can number of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues stood before the throne, and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God, who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne of their faces, faces, and worshiped God, saying, Amen, blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and ever. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And where did they come from? And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. They're not second class.

They are spirit beings. They couldn't be before the throne of God, like that, and be in the flesh. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. So we see here the sealing. Now the unholy triad of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, they offer a counterfeit seal with their mark as well. And we go once again back to Revelation 13. Revelation 13 and verse 16. Revelation 13 16.

And he caused all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads. And then no man could by ourselves say that he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. So the unholy triad offers a counterfeit to the true seal of God. So we see, at least we should see very clearly, that all four commandments in the first table of the law come under attack by Satan and by the beast and the false prophet. The first table of the law is at the center of the battle between the dragon and the remnant. The followers of the beast are marked on the forehead or in their hand. This concept recalls what many Jews consider to be the most important text in the Hebrew Bible. So let's go now to Deuteronomy. This is called the Shema.

In Deuteronomy chapter 6 beginning in verse 4. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4. This is what some call and what the Orthodox Jew would say this is the basis of monotheism of one God.

Of course, I believe that many in the Old Testament probably understood something greater than this that is in addition to this about God. In Deuteronomy 6.4, of course, there's controversies how this should be translated in the first place. Most of the scholars now recognize that this verse is not to be applied in the numerical sense, but in the sense of He is the one that you worship alone. Instead of worshiping the false gods, you worship this God. Here, O Israel, the eternal, the Yahweh, our Elohim, an Elohim within itself, can be plural, is one Lord or one Yahweh, which some translators put as He is God alone.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might, and these words which will command you this day shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently unto your children, shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up, and you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Of course, the hand is what you do work with. Now sign upon your hand a continual reminder, and you shall write them upon the post of your house, upon your gates. See, this is like the the second best thing you can do.

You don't have the Holy Spirit to write it on your hearts and minds, as we'll read in just a minute. Then you write it physically, and you have a reminder on your hand.

You have it on the gate post of your house and on your gates. Verse 10, And it shall be when the Lord your God shall have brought you into the land, which he swore unto your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you the great cities which you didn't build, and houses full of good things, and so on. Verse 12, Then beware, lest you forget the Lord, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. See, Jesus considered these words a nutshell summary of the first table of the law.

You shall hear, O Israel, the Lord is your God. You'll not have any other gods before you. You'll not make any graven image. You'll not take his name in vain. You'll remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Then remember Christ in Matthew 22, verses 37-40, summarize the law when it was asked, Well, which is the greatest commandment of the law? And he said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. The second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two, Christ said, hang all the law and the prophets.

So if you love the Lord your God with all your heart, you won't serve other gods. You won't set up idols. You won't blaspheme his name. You won't worship on another day because he's identified the day that you should worship on, and you will love your neighbor as yourself in light of these words. So tie them, bind them as symbols, as signs, on your hands and on your forehead.

Now, under the new covenant, we turn to Hebrews 10, verse 15.

Hebrews 10 and verse 15.

And we'll notice here that we have the work of the Holy Spirit within us, in addition to knowing these intellectually. And one of the great tragedies, and I spoke of this somewhat at the feast this year, one of the great tragedies of our people, and one of the reasons why at least half or over half of all the people who've ever been baptized in the Church of God since the 1930s have left.

And one of the main reasons is because they gave intellectual assent to the truth. They said, oh yeah, we know that the Seventh-day Sabbath is the right day to worship on. As my mother told me one time, she wanted to look at my correspondence course, and I gave it to her. And after going through it, she said, well, son, you know, if I could find a Baptist Church that meets on Saturday, I'd go to it. But with all of the testimony and witnesses in the Word of God, it seems that people would not be to see, but that shows how powerful Satan and his pull is. And in addition to that, God has permitted blindness. We had an excellent sermon on the last great day in the morning by Mr. Fred Kellers about how so many people through the course of time have been blinded. You can read scripture after scripture, but then the Second Resurrection, these blinders are going to be taken off.

And people all the world should be able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and they'll have that opportunity. Hebrews 10.

Verse 15, Whereof the Holy Spirit also is witness to us, for after that He had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord.

And of course, we are under the terms of that covenant. Now Israel and the rest of the world eventually will have that opportunity to enter into this covenant as well. I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds. Will I write them and their sins and iniquities? Will I remember no more?

So it seems quite evident that the mark of the beast is an intentional counterfeit of the first table of the law, that is, of having no other gods before you, and not making to yourself any graven image, not taking the name of the Lord your God in vain, and remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Now that's not to negate the other six, which we'll talk about.

But it seems that is the emphasis in these last chapters, especially, of Revelation. And if you don't get their mark, then you may be killed. But we also read from Revelation 12 verse 16 that the earth cast out of flood and swallowed up the dragon's army. And we also know that there is protection for some during this terrible time of wrath.

Now the Satan system might say, well, even the Bible states that Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron. So that's all we're doing. It's what the Bible says. So if you don't worship, as the system says to worship, then you get killed. Because the Scripture says that the Messiah, the Christ, will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Now I'm not going to turn to all of these, but I'll read them to you.

Psalm 2.9 says, You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Revelation 2.27 says, And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter. So somewhat a quote from Psalm 2.9.

He shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken and shivers even as I receive my father. Revelation 12.5 She brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up under God and to his throne.

Revelation 19.15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron. And he treads the wine-press of the fiercest and wrath of all mighty God. Now, rod can mean staff, and it can mean other things. But we know that, during the millennium, that basically speaking, people are going to have to... they may not have their heart in the worship of the true God, but they are basically going to have to pretend that they do. Because your teacher shall not be removed into a corner. And your tea and your eyes shall see your teacher. And if you go the wrong way, the voice says, This is the way. Walk you in it.

So, we go back to Revelation 14, verses 6 and 7. Revelation 14, verses 6 and 7. Where, once again, the true God is identified and associated with the creation.

Revelation 14, verse 6. I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, saying, having the everlasting gospel to preach, and of them that dwell on the earth, and every nation kindred in tongue and people to all the world, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him that made heavens and earth and the sea and the fountain of waters.

So, the motivation should be, Do the right thing and you'll be blessed. On the negative side, God says, if you disobey, then you'll be brought into judgment and you'll be punished. In this case, the punishment is, I mean, this is for your life, because those who worship the beast and his system don't seem to make it. God says, I'm the one who delivered you from Egypt. Worship me. Don't set up any idols. Don't take my name in vain.

And God, even when he punishes, says in Hebrews 12.6, that he chastens every son that he loves. So, when we see in all of this, once again, that Satan goes after those who keep the commandments of God, it is logical to conclude that the Sabbath command will be a critical issue in the final crisis at the end of the age. Now, if Satan, the beast, and the false prophet impose Sunday worship, the Sabbath command will be of utmost importance.

Now, whether or not this will be the way it happens when all is said and done and who exactly how it will come to pass, but of course, the pope has already encouraged the European Union to return to its roots. They have talked about returning to what they call the true day of worship, which is Sunday.

The text of Revelation 13 and 14 offers a number of indications about the first four commandments, as we already said about two or three times. The book of Revelation contains several references to the Old Testament, but it basically does not directly quote the Old Testament. It alludes to various words and phrases.

And identifying the text in the book of Revelation that directly refer to the Old Testament can be difficult at times. Perhaps the clearest one is the one we've read here in Revelation 14.7. Worship him who made the heavens and the earth, and immediately that can be as many commentators point out. This can be immediately linked to the Sabbath, the fourth commandment. Since true worship versus false worship is the central issue at the end of this age, the central text of the section that we're in here, Revelation 13 and 14, centers on who will worship the true God. The true worshipers are called to worship the true God in the context of the fourth commandment, him who made the heavens and the earth. That's how it identifies the true God. So perhaps we're being told that the Sabbath is the crucial emphasis in the final crisis. In both texts, Revelation 14.7 and also Exodus 20 verses 8 and 11, the call to worship takes place in the context of the creation.

Also, we've already read Genesis 2 verses 1 through 5.

Obviously, the issue in the final crisis is not limited to the Sabbath, but it seems that it is an integral part of the issue. Now we come down to the second table of the law.

In the book of Revelation, the great issue at the end seems to be related primarily to the first table of the law, the first four commandments. Now, listen carefully. In contrast, on the other hand, the Gospels, Paul's epistles, and the general epistles, to a large degree, focus on the relationship among brethren at the end of the age.

Now, it's all part of the same package.

We, supposedly, and you remember the parable of the ten virgins, that they're all going through the same form. The cry at midnight, they rose, all took their lamps to meet the bribery. Five were wise, five were foolish. They're all going through the same form. Tends to indicate, well, yeah, I accept the first commandment. You shall not have any other gods before you. You'll not make any graven image. You'll not take God's name in vain. Here I am, keeping the Sabbath. What about the rest of it? What about the rest of it?

See, does it just end there?

So, it seems the Gospels and the Epistles are written more with church members in mind.

The book of Revelation talks about all nations, kindreds, races, and tongues. See, this angel goes out having the everlasting gospel to preach. He preaches it to the whole world. And the whole world, it says, is deceived except those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

So, it seems for us now, the focus, to a large degree, needs to be on the sixth commandment, the six last commandments, the second table of the law. Because it seems that we're basically going through the form, at least, of the first four. So, let's notice some of the emphasis. We go to Matthew 24. Remember that Matthew 24 and 25 constitute the Olivet Prophecy. In Matthew 24, verse 46, Christ has already given several signs, answers to the question that the apostles ask him, what shall be the sign of your coming in the end of this age?

Then in Matthew 24 and verse 46, Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delays his coming.

Now, he's not going to say that outwardly. Not going to go around in the congregation saying, Well, you know, Christ is delaying his coming. We thought he was coming, but you know, it's going to be a long time. Christ's delaying his coming. Notice through our actions, actions speak louder than words, especially with God, because he knows our hearts. What we really think, what we really believe deep down inside.

And shall begin, see, notice what he does, My Lord delays his coming and shall begin to smite his fellow servants to eat and drink with the drunken. The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he's not aware of. And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then there should be no chapter break when then, then when they're smiting their fellow servants, shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins.

Five wise, five foolish, they're all going through the same form, but five didn't have oil in their lamps.

They asked the wise ones to give them oil. The wise says, no, but give it to you. I wouldn't have enough. You have to go get it for yourself. They went out to get it. In the meantime, the bridegroom came. The marriage was set. The doors were shut. The five foolish came back saying, let us in.

And he said, no, you can't come in.

Now, if we look at the first part of Matthew 24, Matthew 24, beginning in verse 7, Nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines, pestilence, earthquakes in different places.

These are the beginnings of sorrow.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, shall kill you, and shall be hated. You shall be hated of all nations for my namesake. And then when that's going on, shall many be offended, shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. See, relationships among brethren.

And apparently, they do this thinking that they're going to save their skin. That seems to be the context. You know, during the course of the days of Hitler, in which the Nazi stormtroopers went through the cities and towns trying to sort out and identify the Jews, it turns out that some of them turned in their own countrymen, trying to save themselves.

Many shall be offended, shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

We notice further in the writings, we could turn to parallel accounts of this, and especially in Luke. But we notice in John, and of course John is called the Apostle of Love, and we also see another tie-in to sign. We have read about, talked about the Sabbath sign, and then Christ gives another sign.

Is it any less important? See, the first sign had to do with the first table of the law, the first four commandments. This sign has more to do with the second table of the law, and our relationship of loving our neighbor as ourselves. John 13, 34. A new commandment. What's new about it is to do it the way Christ did it. It's been there all along. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. That's in the Pentateuch.

A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you.

See, Christ loved us so much that He gave Himself for it, for us, that kind of sacrificial love. Greater love hath no man than this, that He laid down His life for His friends, for God so loved the world.

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love, one for another. Now, in Romans 12 and verse 10, remember our sermons on Romans? I know we gave at least two. We called it Mastering the Book of Romans, and we gave a handout. We talked about Romans being the blueprint for world peace.

We talked about how, to a large degree, the Book of Romans parallels the doctrines of the Church. The first three chapters deal with repentance from dead works.

And faith toward God.

And then chapter 6, especially, deals with baptism. Chapter 8, dealing with the Holy Spirit.

And then judgment and resurrection.

I'll reverse those, resurrection and judgment. In Romans 12, going on to perfection. Romans 12, 1 says, You know, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable service. Then, he shows you how to become. What Romans 12 is about are the elements of becoming a living sacrifice.

You can read it, and basically what it has to do with is, totally surrendering and giving up self.

That is more difficult. It involves the Spirit and the whole of the person.

It's easy to refrain from making an idol, just in the physical sense. It's more difficult not making an idol in your mind or in the spiritual sense. It's easier to refrain from taking the Lord your God in vain than to really understand what it means to worship the true God. You can go through the form of keeping the Sabbath and not really understand what it represents in the full relationship that is tied to revealing who God is as our great creator and father. Romans 12.10 Be kindly affection one to another with brotherly love in honor, preferring one another. Romans 13.10 Love works no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Now we go quickly to 1 Peter.

1 Peter 1.22 You begin to get a little bit of a flavor here for how the Gospels and the Epistles emphasize to a large degree this spiritual intent of this relationship among peoples and loving your neighbor as yourself. 1 Peter 1.22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren. There is no pretense, there is no put-on.

It's just the way I am.

It's just the way I am. I really love you. That's really what the intent is.

See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently, being begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, who lives and abides forever. So when all is said and done, it goes back to the two great commandments, loving God with all your heart and mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.

For to us, a large degree of the testing at the end of the age will be based on this about human relationships. We've seen it clearly here in the Scriptures. In Revelation 14, the message of the angel is basically for the world.

The world will be tested on this fundamental relationship of the first table of the law to a large degree. But the truth is, the two great commandments go hand in hand. They are reciprocals. That is, you can't have one without the other. And we are all familiar with 1 John 4, at least I think we are, which says, how can you say that you love God and at the same time not love your neighbor? Because your neighbor is made in the image of God. And if you can't love him, how can you love God?

One of the great weaknesses in the Church of God in recent decades is the tendency to think you can serve God by obeying the letter of the law without applying the spiritual intent as defined by the verses that we have just referred to in 1 John 4 and 5.

I believe the reason you are here is because you understood the spiritual intent and not just that you go through the form.

So, brethren, we need to get our marching orders from both tables of the law, the first table and the second table.

And we also need to remember that circumcision in the spiritual sense is of the heart. And he is a Jew, one who is circumcised in heart, as Paul writes in Romans 2. We don't need to give the world the impression that it would be easier to cheat in business or to abuse our spouse or children than to eat a piece of pork. Now, basically, everybody that's come into the Church, I know there are exceptions to this, but so many people after they come into the Church and then they leave, they won't eat pork. Now, they'll do business on the Sabbath and they'll do all kinds of things. But they won't eat pork. Now, the first, the best-obeyed command must be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth. We all know how to do that. We're willing to do it. And the second one is, how shall I eat pork? That's sort of...

So, what are we most dedicated to? Keeping the spiritual intent of God's immutable spiritual law or not eating unclean foods? Eating unclean foods requires no great spiritual strength. The Islamic world, they obey the kosher laws of diet. They don't eat the unclean foods.

Spiritual power and courage go far beyond human willpower. So, therefore, of course, we have to have God's Spirit to write our... to write His immutable spiritual laws. We read from Hebrews 10, verses 15 and 16, on our hearts and in our minds.

So, we must not fall into the trap of being tested on the second table of the law and falling short. On the other hand, the world at its opposite end of the spectrum, at the present time, they boast of doing the great work for humanity. And they totally ignore the first table of the law and even that God exists.

But you have to put all of it together. You know, Christ says in Matthew 7, that many will come to Me in that day and talk about the great works that they have done. And Christ will say, Depart from Me, you workers of the Nickway. I never knew you.

So, we know that you have to put it all together.

So, I'm going to conclude here. If you turn to Revelation 14, verse 9, I'll read these verses from the book of Revelation and sit down.

In Revelation 14, verse 9, The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead and in his hands, in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine and the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture 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. Revelation 15 too. Here's in contrast, And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire in them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image. Notice it's both, and over his mark all three, and over the number of his name four, stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God. And they sing the victory song of Moses in Revelation 19 and verse 20. Revelation 19 verse 20.

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and then that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone.

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that set upon the horse, that is, the remnant that was with Satan the beast and false prophet, that set upon the horse which sword proceeds out of his mouth with all the fowls and filled with their flesh. So the beast and false prophet are cast into this lake of brimstone and fire. And then chapter 20, I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hand on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, cast him into the abyss, and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years be fulfilled, and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, for the word of God, which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

So brethren, here we are. Who will you worship? Will you worship the true God who made the heavens and the earth? Or will you be deceived? See, the recipe for not being deceived is given throughout the whole Bible, and the very key is to love the truth, not just give intellectual assent to it, but to love it to the very depth of your being, and then keep not only the form, but also the spirit of the law with a circumcised heart.