| Author | Message | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
$1,000,000 Reward! For Anyone who Can PROVE THAT SUNDAY WORSHIP IS THE ìMARK OF THE BEASTî of Revelation 16 & 19. Dear Adventist Friend, This proposition is one I know you canít fulfill. For one thing, the concept of ìSunday worshipî as a bad thing is foreign to all Scripture. Iím so confident in offering you a million dollars because I know you canít win it! You are of course at perfect liberty to use any and all texts from Scripture to prove your point, but to win you must tie together and make sense of the following basic texts. Success to you! Under the NIV heading: To the Church in Laodicea: Revelation 3:14-22: ìTo the angel of the church in Laodicea write; These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of Godís creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm ñ neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm ñ neither hot nor cold ñ I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ëI am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To HIM WHO OVERCOMES, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I OVERCAME and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.î Under the NIV heading: The Beast out of the Earth: Revelation 13:16-14:13: He [the BEAST out of the earth] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a MARK ON HIS RIGHT HAND OR ON HIS FOREHEAD, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the MARK, which is the name of the BEAST or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the BEAST, for it is manís number. His number is 666 [DCLXVI]. Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Fatherís name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. THEY WERE PURCHASED FROM AMONG MEN AND OFFERED AS FIRSTFRUITS TO GOD AND TO THE LAMB. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. Then I saw another ANGEL flying in midair, and he HAD THE ETERNAL GOSPEL to proclaim to those who live on the earth ñ to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, ìFear God and give him glory because THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT HAS COME [written by John about 95 AD!]. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.î A second angel followed and said, ìFallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.î A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice; ìIf anyone worships the BEAST and his image and receives his MARK on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of Godís fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the BEAST and his image, or for anyone who receives the MARK of his name.î This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey Godís commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ìWrite: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.î ìYes,î says the Spirit, ìthey will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.î Under the NIV heading: Seven Angels with Seven Plagues: Revelation 15:1-4: I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues ñ last, because with them Godís wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, THOSE WHO HAD BEEN VICTORIOUS OVER THE BEAST and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ìGreat and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Under the NIV heading: The Seven Bowls of Godís Wrath: Revelation 16:1-2: Then I heard a loud voice form the temple saying to the seven angels, ìGo, pour out the seven bowls of Godís wrath on the earth.î The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the MARK OF THE BEAST and worshipped his image. Under the NIV heading: The Rider on the White Horse: Revelation 19:19-20: Then I saw the BEAST and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the BEAST was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the MARK OF THE BEAST and worshipped his image. Under the NIV heading: the Thousand Years: Revelation 20:4: I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the BEAST or his image and had not received his MARK on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. I think if you are honest with me that you will admit here and now that this fundamental teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist church ñ that ìSunday worshipî = ìthe mark of the beastî in Scripture is false doctrine. But of course, I welcome you to try to prove your position from Scripture (no use of Ellen G. Whiteís writings is allowed, sorry). In grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone, Jude | ||
| Xsra Registered user Username: Xsra Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hi Jude, I don't believe anyone could prove that Sunday worship is the mark of the beast at this present time, for, Revelation 16 & 19 speak of a time when the beast will exercise actual force to "compel" people to do things, and this time hasn't yet come. But when that time does come, I'll be happy to relieve you of the $1,000,000, although factoring in inflation at about 3% over X number of years will mean there will have to be a slight upward adjustment. Regards Rob |
