The activities of the Antichrist in light of the Biblical countdown of events leading up to the end of the world seem to have taken center stage in the writings of at least three prophets.But it appears that only a small group of prophecy students are calling attention to last-day events as it relates to the controversial Sabbath question.Perhaps the majority are seeing things in a different light or it could be a case where they just need to do a more in-depth search of the prophetic word.I guess most of those who are discounting the Sabbath issue as having any end-time significance are doing so due to a bias towards Sunday observance.But everyone is entitled to have a bias towards one viewpoint or the other, so having a bias is not necessarily bad.What is bad is when you allow your biases to determine your attitude towards re-examining your own position, and to prevent you from admitting that you are wrong when you are so convinced.In my own analysis of end-of-the-world events along this line, I sought to establish three important prophecy truths.They are as follows..1.The binding obligation of the Sabbath in the last days.2.The Antichrist's enmity towards the Ten Commandments.3.The Antichrist attempt to supplant the seventh-day Sabbath.Sabbath keeping in last-day prophecy In order to properly set forth the position that the prophecy concerning the Antichrist includes his enmity towards the fourth commandment, we need to establish from the scriptures that the binding obligation of the Sabbath extends to the last days.The countdown of end-of-the-world events in Matthew 24 is one the most studied prophecies in the Bible.One of the most notable predictions that Jesus made in this chapter is about the ".Great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matt.24.21.According to the forecast, this is the time during which the Christians should flee to the mountains.But in connection with this particular prophecy, Jesus gave a very noteworthy admonition in the 20th verse."But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." Matt.24.20.In the above verse is the clear implication that the Sabbath will still be observed even during the great time of trouble.That Christians should pray that their devotion to God on that day is not interrupted by the need to take an unscheduled retreat to the hills is a testimony to the level of importance that is attached to the seventh day.The enmity towards the Ten commandments The greatest evidence of Satan's enmity towards the Ten Commandments is found in Revelation 12.In his countdown of end-of-the-world events, the prophet John declared.."And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev.12.17.Thus, the Devil manifests his enmity towards the commandments by persecuting those who are its faithful adherents.This enmity against the 'remnant' saints who are obedient to the law of God will be manifested through the beast (the Antichrist) of Revelation 13.Another indication of hostility towards the Decalogue is found in Daniel 7.25.Speaking of the little horn king (the Antichrist), the prophet Daniel says, that he shall ".Think to change times and laws".Furthermore, in chapter 11 the prophet went on to say that this same individual under the name 'king of the north', will ".Have indignation against the holy covenant" Dan.11.30.The holy covenant here mentioned is a clear reference to the law of God as written on two tables of stone (Deut.5.3; Heb.9.4).The attempt to supplant the seventh-day Sabbath From the above scenario we can see the clear implication for the Sabbath commandment.Since the prophecy about the Antichrist is essentially about how he will get the world to worship him, we can hardy isolate it from the issue of Sabbath worship.Here is the reason for this proposition.The sole purpose of the Sabbath is to fellowship with God and to honour Him as our Creator and sanctifying Redeemer (Exod.31.16, 17; Ezek.20.12, 20).In reference to the delightful communion with Jehovah on His holy day, the Lord declared through the prophet Isaiah saying,."If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.".In the countdown to the end of the world across the parallel prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, it is all about how this end-time enemy of Christ will exalt himself above God and blaspheme His name (Dan.11.36-39).What sense would it make to create hostility against God and His laws without wanting to abolish His Sabbath!? After all, the Christians who believe in the perpetuity of the Ten Commandments are more know for their Sabbath keeping than anything else.That is what distinguishes them from other Christians.If you are a Sunday keeper reading this article, you should not allow your inclination towards Sunday observance to keep you from investigating end-time prophecy from this angle.
Friday, July 6, 2012
End of the World Countdown: The Prophecy of the Antichrist's Enmity Towards the Seventh-Day Sabbath
The activities of the Antichrist in light of the Biblical countdown of events leading up to the end of the world seem to have taken center stage in the writings of at least three prophets.But it appears that only a small group of prophecy students are calling attention to last-day events as it relates to the controversial Sabbath question.Perhaps the majority are seeing things in a different light or it could be a case where they just need to do a more in-depth search of the prophetic word.I guess most of those who are discounting the Sabbath issue as having any end-time significance are doing so due to a bias towards Sunday observance.But everyone is entitled to have a bias towards one viewpoint or the other, so having a bias is not necessarily bad.What is bad is when you allow your biases to determine your attitude towards re-examining your own position, and to prevent you from admitting that you are wrong when you are so convinced.In my own analysis of end-of-the-world events along this line, I sought to establish three important prophecy truths.They are as follows..1.The binding obligation of the Sabbath in the last days.2.The Antichrist's enmity towards the Ten Commandments.3.The Antichrist attempt to supplant the seventh-day Sabbath.Sabbath keeping in last-day prophecy In order to properly set forth the position that the prophecy concerning the Antichrist includes his enmity towards the fourth commandment, we need to establish from the scriptures that the binding obligation of the Sabbath extends to the last days.The countdown of end-of-the-world events in Matthew 24 is one the most studied prophecies in the Bible.One of the most notable predictions that Jesus made in this chapter is about the ".Great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matt.24.21.According to the forecast, this is the time during which the Christians should flee to the mountains.But in connection with this particular prophecy, Jesus gave a very noteworthy admonition in the 20th verse."But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." Matt.24.20.In the above verse is the clear implication that the Sabbath will still be observed even during the great time of trouble.That Christians should pray that their devotion to God on that day is not interrupted by the need to take an unscheduled retreat to the hills is a testimony to the level of importance that is attached to the seventh day.The enmity towards the Ten commandments The greatest evidence of Satan's enmity towards the Ten Commandments is found in Revelation 12.In his countdown of end-of-the-world events, the prophet John declared.."And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev.12.17.Thus, the Devil manifests his enmity towards the commandments by persecuting those who are its faithful adherents.This enmity against the 'remnant' saints who are obedient to the law of God will be manifested through the beast (the Antichrist) of Revelation 13.Another indication of hostility towards the Decalogue is found in Daniel 7.25.Speaking of the little horn king (the Antichrist), the prophet Daniel says, that he shall ".Think to change times and laws".Furthermore, in chapter 11 the prophet went on to say that this same individual under the name 'king of the north', will ".Have indignation against the holy covenant" Dan.11.30.The holy covenant here mentioned is a clear reference to the law of God as written on two tables of stone (Deut.5.3; Heb.9.4).The attempt to supplant the seventh-day Sabbath From the above scenario we can see the clear implication for the Sabbath commandment.Since the prophecy about the Antichrist is essentially about how he will get the world to worship him, we can hardy isolate it from the issue of Sabbath worship.Here is the reason for this proposition.The sole purpose of the Sabbath is to fellowship with God and to honour Him as our Creator and sanctifying Redeemer (Exod.31.16, 17; Ezek.20.12, 20).In reference to the delightful communion with Jehovah on His holy day, the Lord declared through the prophet Isaiah saying,."If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.".In the countdown to the end of the world across the parallel prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, it is all about how this end-time enemy of Christ will exalt himself above God and blaspheme His name (Dan.11.36-39).What sense would it make to create hostility against God and His laws without wanting to abolish His Sabbath!? After all, the Christians who believe in the perpetuity of the Ten Commandments are more know for their Sabbath keeping than anything else.That is what distinguishes them from other Christians.If you are a Sunday keeper reading this article, you should not allow your inclination towards Sunday observance to keep you from investigating end-time prophecy from this angle.
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