Wednesday, February 20
Read Revelation 12:17. At the end time, against whom does Satan make all-out war?
The word “rest”, or “remnant”, describes those who remain faithful to God while the majority apostatize (1 Kings 19:18, Revelation 2:24). While the majority of people in the world side with Satan at the end of time, a group of people whom God raised up after 1798 will remain faithful to Christ in the face of Satan’s full fury.
What are the two characteristics of the remnant in Revelation 12:17? How can one be sure that he or she belongs to God’s end-time remnant?
The end-time remnant keeps God’s commandments. Revelation 13 shows that the first tablet of the Decalogue will be central to the end-time conflict. The key component of the first four commandments is worship. The main issue in the final crisis is who should be worshiped. While the people in the world will choose to worship the image of the beast, the remnant will worship God the Creator (Revelation 14:7). The fourth commandment, the Sabbath, points specifically to God as our Creator, which is one reason it will play a pivotal role in the final crisis at the end.
Also, the end-time remnant’s second characteristic is that they “have the testimony of Jesus Christ”, which Revelation 19:10 (NKJV)explains is “the spirit of prophecy”. By comparing this verse with Revelation 22:9, we see that John’s “brethren” who have the testimony of Jesus are prophets, Therefore, “the testimony of Jesus” refers to Jesus testifying to the truth through His prophets, just as He did through John (Revelation 1:2). Revelation shows that at the time of the end, God’s people will have the “spirit of prophecy” in their midst to guide them through those difficult times, as Satan will make every effort to deceive and destroy them. As Adventists, we have been given that gift of prophetic insight in the ministry and writings of Ellen G. White.
What do you see as some of the most incredible insights we have been given through “the spirit of prophecy”? What obligations does this gift put on us, individually and as a church?
