Lesson 10, March 2-8
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 14:6-12; Matthew 24:14; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Exodus 20:2-11; Isaiah 21:9; Isaiah 34:8-10.
Memory Text: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, NKJV).
Revelation shows that Satan’s end-time deception will be so successful that the world will choose to worship the beast and receive its mark. Yet, Revelation 14:1-5 tells us that God will have His remnant, those who will take their stand for the Lord when most of the world doesn’t.
In the end, people will have to choose, not whether to worship or not (everyone always worships something), but rather, whom to worship. The worshipers of the beast will receive the mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, symbolic of their choice to serve this apostate system with their deeds and/or minds.
At the same time, the world will witness a great proclamation of the gospel, such as has not been seen since the day of Pentecost. Before the judgments of God are poured out upon rebellious humanity, God will send His warning messages “to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6, NKJV). God does not want anyone to perish but all to be saved, which is why Christ’s death was for all humanity. The question is who will accept that provision and who won’t.
