DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL. It is Satan’s aim is to destroy us. He is working extra hard today because he knows he has a short time. How can we avoid his traps?

We are concluding our study of the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14; in this context, we focus on the value of knowing what is truth and how we can obtain it.

Review our previous videos on this study at SabbathSchoolDaily.com.

You may obtain the study guide on the Three Cosmic Messages at Sabbath.School or ssnet.org.

Let Us Invite God’s Presence:

Holy Father, give us a mind to search the Bible with an intense desire to know what is truth. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Jesus knows all the sneaky traps of the enemy. He has promised to guide us when we desire to follow Him with all our hearts, mind, and soul. He will keep us on the right track. He says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” That means if we earnestly follow Him, we will know the way and the truth that leads us to eternal life. And He will keep us on the right track and help us make the right choices.

Moreover, Jesus in John 8:32; John 7:17; and John 17:17 makes a promise regarding truth, wisdom, and understanding.

In John 7:17, He promises that when we desire to do His will, we will know whether teachings come from God.

17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. (John 7:17)

In John 8:32, we find that we are set free when we know the truth.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

And John 17:17 tells us that God’s word is true, and by it, we can live godly lives.

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16 let us know the benefit of knowing the Word of God, the Bible.

He tells us that: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)

Having received His word and having been sanctified by it, God’s final message to His people is to reject the false teachings of Babylon. Babylon is a false religious system that mingles truth with error.  The key to avoiding being in  Babylon is Bible truth. Bible truth is the everlasting gospel. As long as we trust the Bible and its teachings, we will not be deceived by Satan in the final conflict between good and evil. We will not be tricked by his lie about obeying the commandments of God (including the Sabbath) and having faith of Jesus as expressed in Revelation 14:12:

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

Therefore, the second angel of Revelation 14 invites us to accept truth rather than error. His message encourages us to accept Bible truth, that is, accept God’s Word rather than believe errors and false teachings.

The third angel warns us about receiving the mark of the beast. Receiving this mark indicates that a person’s allegiance is to the beast.  Keep in mind that the beast symbolizes kingdoms and powers. In this case, the beast is a united religious and political system that has great power. It is a union of church and government. The beast of Revelation 13 and 14 grows out of the kingdom of Rome as a worldwide system of worship.

This power or beast obtained its worldwide control of the Christian church during the Dark Ages. In the future, it is expected that this religious kingdom of Rome will join with the governments on this earth to become a worldwide religious-political power. Its aim will be to try to bring everyone on Earth under its control at a time when the world is experiencing a terrible crisis. This is not hard to conceive, considering the laws that were enacted during Covid.

Notice what it says in the book The Great Controversy: And the United States will eventually take the lead in this global confederation. “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 588.

What is spiritualism? It is the practice of communicating with the dead and interacting with demonic spirits.

Despite what may happen, the messages of the three angels in Revelation 14:12 end with the urgent appeal to remain patient, keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

Jesus has promised us in John 8:32 that knowing the truth frees us. Knowing the truth allows us to be consciously on guard for error and false teachings. Thus, we are in a position to be reformers. What does it mean to be a reformer? Find out in Part 4: The Reformation Continues

Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church

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Houston, TX 77088

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