A Reform-minded Seventh-day Adventist forum In our aim to exalt everything important, first and foremost, we seek to promote a clear understanding of Daniel, Revelation, the three angels' messages and the alpha and omega of apostasy.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject: The Mark of the Beast in the 1858 GC
Just a thought, but in the original, unedited 1858 Great Controversy chapter 36 we read "They had faithfully warned the inhabitants of earth, and God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation, and who would not bow to the decree of the beast, or receive his mark"
Is it possible that since the beast's decree is Sunday Worship that his mark he forces on apostate Christians is something different? Maybe by "bowing to his decree" it means that some will only acknowledge (but not keep) the false Sunday-Sabbath, whereas those who take the mark observe a strict Sabbath rest at the false set-time (Sunday). Or maybe Satan, impersonating Christ will place a literal mark on those who acknowledge the Papal Pseudo-Sabbath, but will claim it to be the seal of God.
"They … would not bow to the decree of the beast, or receive his mark"
Maybe by "bowing to his decree" it means that some will only acknowledge (but not keep) the false Sunday-Sabbath, whereas those who take the mark observe a strict Sabbath rest at the false set-time (Sunday).
God could never approve of a pretended acceptance of the beast decree. Receiving the beast's mark on the right hand or on the forehead (Rev 13:16) is a likely reference to accepting the beast decree by action or mind. Both choices lead to everlasting destruction (Rev 14:9-10).
"At one time those in charge of our school at Avondale inquired of me, saying: 'What shall we do? The officers of the law have been commissioned to arrest those working on Sunday.' I replied: 'It will be very easy to avoid that difficulty. Give Sunday to the Lord as a day for doing missionary work. Take the students out to hold meetings in different places, and to do medical missionary work. They will find the people at home and will have a splendid opportunity to present the truth. This way of spending Sunday is always acceptable to the Lord.'"
"The light given me by the Lord at a time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you seem to be approaching was that when the people were moved by a power from beneath to enforce Sunday observance, Seventh-day Adventists were to show their wisdom by refraining from their ordinary work on that day, devoting it to missionary effort."
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