THE THIRD ANGEL”S MESSAGE

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,” The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. “HERE is the patience of the saints; HERE are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” Revelation 14:9-12. The beast and image mentioned here are the same as are mentioned in chap. 13:5-18; 15:2, and 16:2, at the pouring out of the wrath of God in the seven last plagues,. The Papal beast that was to “make war,” and “wear out the saints of the Most High,” 1260 years, from 538 to 1798 is the one mentioned by the third angel. The image beast has come up since that time, and both will be on the stage at the pouring out of the vials of God’s wrath in the great day of the Lord. In the third angel’s message, and in chaps. 15 and 16, but two classes are brought to view. One is oppressive, and persecutes the saints, and has the mark of the beast, and worships the beast and his image, and at last suffers the vials of God’s burning wrath. The other class is oppressed and driven, and in their patient waiting for the coming of Jesus, they get “the victory over the beast, and his image, and over his MARK” and are sealed with the seal of the living God by keeping “the commandments of God.” They, though but a small remnant, finally triumph, and are seen on the “sea of glass mingled with fire,” and on Mount Zion with the Lamb, singing the song of their experience, and their redemption “from among men,” (not from the grave, for they will be alive at the coming of Christ and be changed,) which no others in all wide heaven “could learn.” It is said of those, who finally triumph, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” Also, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.” Revelation 22:14. The “remnant” of the seed of the woman, or last end of the church just before the second advent, is made war with, and persecuted, for keeping the “commandments of God,” and for having the “testimony of Jesus Christ.” See Revelation 12:17. The commandments of God here mentioned, mean nothing more nor less than his ten immutable laws, written upon two tables of stone. But says the objector, “You are mistaken.” The commandments of God here mean the New Testament requirements, such as repentance, faith, baptism, etc. “Stop sir, let me inquire - Are not all such requirements included in the “faith” or “testimony of Jesus Christ?” “O yes, I admit that they are.” Then tell me what the “commandments of God” are. John, in holy vision, saw a company, down here near the close of time, that kept the “faith,” and had the “testimony of Jesus Christ,” in which is embraced all the New Testament requirements, such as repentance, faith, baptism, Lord’s supper, washing the saints feet, etc.; he also saw them KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.” If you will lay aside your unscriptural objections, which have been invented to lead you from the plain truth of God’s word on this point, and will answer the question honestly in the fear of God, you will say that the “commandments of God” really mean the commandments of God, and not something else. This point is nailed sure, and you cannot get away from it fairly, without confessing the seventh-day Sabbath, for it is embraced in the “commandments of God.” Keeping the commandments seems to be in perfect opposition to the “mark of the beast,” which leads me to inquire -TTAM 6.1