Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 70

9. What did Babylon give to the nations to drink?

"She made all nations drink of _the wine of the wrath of her fornication_." Rev. 14:8, last part. See pages 256, 257.

10. What are those to drink who accept the teachings of Babylon, and thus render homage to the beast?

"The same shall drink of _the wine of the wrath of G.o.d_, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation." Verse 10, first part.

NOTE.-The cup of the Lord, which contains the new covenant in the blood of Christ, and the cup of the wine of the wrath of Babylon are both offered to the world. To drink of the former, that is, to accept the teaching of the true gospel, is to receive everlasting life; but to drink of the wine of Babylon, that is, to accept the false gospel taught by the Papacy, will result in drinking of the wine of the wrath of G.o.d from the cup of His indignation. The true gospel means everlasting life; the false gospel means everlasting death.

11. Under what threatened penalty is the worship of the image of the beast enforced?

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and _cause [decree] that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed_." Rev. 13:15.

NOTE.-For an explanation of the image of the beast, see reading on "Making an Image to the Beast," page 271.

12. What universal boycott is to be employed, in an attempt to compel all to receive the mark of the beast?

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and _that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name_." Verses 16, 17.

NOTE.-Regarding the mark of the beast, see reading on "The Seal of G.o.d and the Mark of Apostasy," page 416.

13. Who is the real power operating through the beast and his image, and demanding worship?

"The _dragon_ gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

Verse 2, last part.

14. Who is this dragon?

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the _Devil_, and _Satan_, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Rev. 12:9.

15. How did the devil seek to induce Jesus to worship him?

"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, _All this power will I give Thee_, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. _If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine._" Luke 4:5-7.

16. How did Jesus show His loyalty to G.o.d?

"And Jesus answered and said unto him, _Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy G.o.d, and Him only shalt thou serve_." Verse 8.

NOTE.-The threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12 is proclaimed in connection with the closing scenes of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Lucifer has sought to put himself in the place of G.o.d (Isa. 14:12-14), and to secure to himself the worship which is due G.o.d alone. The final test comes over the commandments of G.o.d. Those who acknowledge the supremacy of the beast by yielding obedience to the law of G.o.d as changed and enforced by the Papacy, when the real issue has been clearly defined, will, in so doing, worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark.

Such will take the side of Satan in his rebellion against the authority of G.o.d.

17. How many will yield to the demand to worship the beast?

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8.

18. In the judgment-hour message, whom are all called upon to fear, glorify, and worship?

"Saying with a loud voice, _Fear G.o.d, and give glory to Him_; for the hour of His judgment is come: and _worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters_." Rev. 14:7.

19. Who will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb on the sea of gla.s.s?

"And I saw as it were a sea of gla.s.s mingled with fire: and _them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name_, stand on the sea of gla.s.s, having the harps of G.o.d. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of G.o.d, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord G.o.d Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15:2-4.

Satan's Warfare Against The Church

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Death Of Christ. "He [Satan] persecuted the woman [the church] that brought forth the man child." Rev. 12:13.

1. Under what figure was the Christian church represented to the apostle John?

"And there appeared a great wonder [margin, sign] in heaven; _a woman_ clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Rev. 12:1.

NOTES.-Frequently in the Scriptures a woman is used to represent the church. See Jer. 6:2; 2 Cor. 11:2. The sun represents the light of the gospel with which the church was clothed at the first advent (1 John 2:8); the moon under her feet, the waning light of the former dispensation; and the twelve stars, the twelve apostles.

"Woman in her innocence was attacked by 'that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.' ... At the end of that first crafty a.s.sault and speedy victory the dragon met with his rebuff, in words like these: 'The seed of the woman shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.' ... In the Revelation the scene is changed from Eden to the heavens, and before you stand again the woman and the serpent, in the same position of antagonism as before, the serpent still the a.s.sailant, only this time more openly so.... The woman is no longer a simple, childlike personage, but _a wonder_; she walks not among the trees and flowers, but amid the orbs of heaven. She is clothed with the sun, the moon is under her feet, and upon her head is a coronet of twelve stars. In her you see the great cause of truth and righteousness embodied-she is, in fact, the church of G.o.d in all ages, the woman whose Seed blesses all the nations of the earth."-_C. H. Spurgeon, in The Tabernacle Pulpit, March 15, 1896._

2. How is the church at the first advent described?

"And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." Verse 2.

NOTE.-The church is in labor and pain while she brings forth Christ and her children, in the midst of afflictions and persecutions. See Rom. 8:19, 22; 1 John 3:1, 2; 2 Tim. 3:12.

3. How are the birth, work, and ascension of Christ briefly described?

"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto G.o.d, and to His throne." Verse 5.

NOTE.-Specifically this must refer to Christ (see Ps. 2:7-9); but through Him is also prefigured the experience of the people of G.o.d, who finally in the judgment are to share with Christ in ruling the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 2:26, 27), and, like Him, when their work on earth is accomplished be "caught up," at His appearing, to G.o.d and to His throne. 1 Thess. 4:15-17.