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Lesson 14 - The Sign of Allegiance to GodIntroduction: In our last lesson we saw that we will be judged according to God's law. Keeping the law does not save us, but it shows whether we have been born again. In Revelation, the keeping of God's law is also what distinguishes God's people from those who follow the Beast. In this lesson we will learn why. 1. How is the "man of sin" (sometimes called the "Beast" power in Scripture) described by Paul? 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 7-10 (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV) "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, {4} who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 NKJV) "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. {8} And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, {10} and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." [Ans: "The lawless one" (NKJV) The Further-study verse is Dan. 7:25] 2. We will study about the Beast in our next lesson. There we will learn that most of the world will receive his mark of authority. These people who receive the mark of the Beast (unknowingly, of course,) will actually think they are saved through faith in Jesus and will be astounded to find, too late, that they are lost! How did Jesus describe these professed Christians in the last days who follow the "lawless" Beast power? Matt. 7:21-23 (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) ""Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" [Ans: Like the Beast, they "practice lawlessness" (NKJV) Rev. 22:14] 3. How many commandments may we disregard without being considered "lawless" by God? James 2:10-12 [Matt. 5:17-19] (James 2:10-12 NKJV) "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. {11} For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. {12} So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty." 4. What commandment in God's law do most Christians disregard? Ex. 20:8-11 (Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV) ""Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. {11} For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." [Note: By looking at the calendar we find that the seventh day of the week is Saturday, not Sunday! According to the Ten Commandments, "the seventh day [not the first day] is the Sabbath of the Lord [not of the Jews]." The Jews kept this day simply because, until they rejected Jesus, they were God's people. Our Further-study verse also makes it clear that the Sabbath is for Gentiles who are God's people. Isa. 56:1-8] 5. When does the Biblical Sabbath begin and end? Lev. 23:32 (Leviticus 23:32 NKJV) ""It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath."" [Ans: It begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday. Gen. 1:5; Luke 23:54-56] 6. What day does Jesus claim as His day, the Lord's day? Mark 2:27, 28 [Matt. 12:8] (Mark 2:27-28 NKJV) "And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. {28} "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."" 7. What right does Jesus have to claim a day as His? Col. 1:16 (Colossians 1:16 NKJV) "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." [Ans. Because He made it. He is the Creator. John 1:3] 8. When did Jesus make the Sabbath? Gen. 2:13 (Genesis 2:13 NKJV) "The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush." [Note: Our Further-study verses show that God's people kept the Sabbath before Sinai; and there is still, after Jesus' death on the cross, a Sabbath rest to be kept. It was not just for the Jews and it has not passed away. There were, however, old-covenant yearly, ceremonial sabbaths (such as the Passover) which were given at Sinai and which, as "shadows of things to come," pointed forward to Christ and were fulfilled and done away with at the cross. Ex. 16:21-30; Matt. 24:20; Col. 2:16, 17 cf. Lev. 23:23-44] 9. How did Jesus relate to the Sabbath when He was on earth? Luke 4:16 [Matt. 24:20; Isa. 42:21; Heb. 13:8] (Luke 4:16 NKJV) "So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read." 10. On what day did Paul, long after the crucifixion, worship with both the Jews and the Gentiles? Acts 13:42-44 [Acts 13:14; 16:13; 18:4, 11] (Acts 13:42-44 NKJV) "So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. {43} Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. {44} On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God." 11. Was this Paul's custom? Acts 17:2 (Acts 17:2 NKJV) "Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures," [Note: Paul was accused of many things by the Jews, but one thing he was never accused of was Sabbath breaking! The Bible contains a record of only one meeting that Paul held on the first day, and that was a farewell service that continued until after midnight. Also, Paul told the Corinthians to gather up their poor fund on the first day of the week. This was a weekday activity. Acts 20:7-11 (In this passage, the New English Bible says "Saturday night," instead of "the first day of the week."); 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2] 12. On what day did John, the last apostle, have a vision while in exile? Rev. 1:10 (Revelation 1:10 NKJV) "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet," [Note: The only "Lord's Day" throughout Scripture is the Seventh-day Sabbath. Luke 23:56 (In this verse the followers of Jesus continued to recognize the binding claims of the fourth commandment after Jesus' death on the cross. And Luke, writing decades after the crucifixion, continues to call the seventh day "the Sabbath.")] 13. The Bible describes a people who will repair a broken-down law of God that has been trampled on for many generations. What commandment is it? Isa. 58:12-14 [Rev. 12:17] (Isaiah 58:12-14 NKJV) "Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. {13} "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, {14} Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."" 14. On what day will the redeemed worship God in the new earth? Isa. 66:22, 23 [Ps. 119:152; 2 Peter 3:13-14] (Isaiah 66:22-23 NKJV) ""For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. {23} And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD." 15. While all the commandments show our allegiance, which one is a special sign of allegiance that we may know that we are truly following God, as His people, and that He is our God? Eze. 20:19, 20 [Rev. 14: 12] (Ezekiel 20:19-20 NKJV) "'I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; {20} 'hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'" Commitment: The Sabbath is the one commandment we must accept solely by faith in Jesus' authority. Keeping it does not save us, but it demonstrates our true allegiance. Today, during the judgment, God is again bringing His people back to full obedience. Though we are not held accountable until we have an opportunity to know the truth (James 4:17), out of love for us God is again teaching us these forgotten principles, that we may not inadvertently become followers of the "lawless" Beast. Is it your desire to follow Jesus all the way? Will you show your allegiance and love to Jesus by keeping His day of worship?
Further Study VersesQuestion 1 - Further Study (Daniel 7:25 NKJV) "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time." -->Back to Study Question 2 - Further Study (Revelation 22:14 NKJV) "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." -->Back to Study Question 3 - Further Study (Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV) ""Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. {18} "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. {19} "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." -->Back to Study Question 4 - Further Study (Isaiah 56:1-8 NKJV) "Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. {2} Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil." {3} Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree." {4} For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, {5} Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. {6} "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants; Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; {7} Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." {8} The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him."" -->Back to Study Question 5 - Further Study (Genesis 1:5 NKJV) "God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Luke 23:54-56 NKJV) "That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. {55} And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. {56} Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment." -->Back to Study Question 6 - Further Study (Matthew 12:8 NKJV) ""For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."" -->Back to Study Question 7 - Further Study (John 1:3 NKJV) "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." -->Back to Study Question 8 - Further Study (Exodus 16:21-30 NKJV) "So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted. {22} And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. {23} Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.'" {24} So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. {25} Then Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. {26} "Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there will be none." {27} Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. {28} And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? {29} "See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." {30} So the people rested on the seventh day." (Matthew 24:20 NKJV) ""And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." (Colossians 2:16-17 NKJV) "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, {17} which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." (Leviticus 23:23-44 NKJV) "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {24} "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. {25} 'You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'" {26} And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: {27} "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. {28} "And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. {29} "For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. {30} "And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. {31} "You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. {32} "It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath." {33} Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {34} "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. {35} 'On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. {36} 'For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. {37} 'These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day; {38} 'besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD. {39} 'Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. {40} 'And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. {41} 'You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. {42} 'You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, {43} 'that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.'" {44} So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD." -->Back to Study Question 9 - Further Study (Matthew 24:20 NKJV) ""And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." (Isaiah 42:21 NKJV) "The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable." (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -->Back to Study Question 10 - Further Study (Acts 13:14 NKJV) "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down." (Acts 16:13 NKJV) "And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there." (Acts 18:4 NKJV) "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." (Acts 18:11 NKJV) "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." -->Back to Study Question 11 - Further Study (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NKJV) "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come." -->Back to Study Question 13 - Further Study (Revelation 12:17 NKJV) "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." -->Back to Study Question 14 - Further Study (Psalms 119:152 NKJV) "Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever." (2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV) "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. {14} Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;" -->Back to Study Question 15 - Further Study (Revelation 14:12 NKJV) "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." -->Back to Study
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