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A Special Day (Bible Study Series)

by Pr Douglas Jenkins

by Pr Douglas Jenkins

Title            A Special Day
Theme        Worship is . . .

(This is part 10 in the Bible Study series.  Part 1 is found in edition 4, Part 2 in edition 5, Part 3 in edition 6, Part 4 in edition 7, Part 5 in edition 8, Part 6 in edition 9, Part 7 in edition 10, Part 8 in edition 11 and Part 9 in edition 12 of the online magazine.)

 
GOD'S LOVING CARE

God has left a special message for you: "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying: Yea, I HAVE LOVED THEE with an everlasting love; therefore with LOVING- KINDNESS have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31: 3. God is saying to you: I have loving care for you.  Yes, God includes everyone in His loving care.  I found this, too; and I have had abundant evidence of it through my many years. It is in God's loving care that He has recorded in His Word--the Bible, another important message. This is particularly for us today.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven [from angelos -- messenger, from God ], having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth , and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice: Fear [unwilling to cause God's disapproval ] God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come; and worship Him that made , heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14: 6,7. 

You have read that before. The important message is what follows.   However, this study will only highlight the actual portions that are necessary in order to understand what is God's concern for us now. 

Notice, in the warning in Revelation, one emphasis is-- WORSHIP the Creator- Sustainer God. Follow that through and in verse 9. the same is repeated :"And the third angel followed them [after the warning in verse 8.] saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image.....The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God..." I searched for clues--What was all this about? Maybe you are wondering, too.

I turned to a complimentary book of major prophecies--Daniel. Here I found the first clue--I was excited. It was Daniel 7: 17 :"These great beasts, which . . .  are four, are kings which shall arise out of the earth." Ancient history records that these were major empires that ruled in succession -- Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, the Roman empire. That's clear. I was still hazy about worship! Where does this fit?  I read further, in verse 23 & 25 :"Thus he said, The fourth BEAST shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth...And he shall speak great words against the Most High . . . and think to change times and laws...."

Ancient records show that eventually the Roman Empire became involved in religious matters. My mind questioned -- Why did this empire meddle with religions? So I went back to Revelation chapter 13,verse 4. I was amazed with what I read: "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast.." Then Revelation 12;9 gave the answer:" And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan which deceiveth the whole world."

The reason became clear. Remember Isaiah 14: 12-14:"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning, . . [he became Satan] For thou hast said in thine heart [mind], I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will be like the Most High." Satan purposed to supercede God, and become the center of worship in this world.  

Therefore we read God's warning of a counterfeit day of worship, and the worship of a false God. Going back to Daniel 7:25: ". . . and think TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS.." Satan influenced changing the day for worship from God's Holy seventh day Sabbath [Saturday] to the now popular first day worship-[Sunday]. This despite God's Law, specifically stating :"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work..." Exodus 20: 8-10.

So, in Revelation 14:7. God is warning, in His loving-care for people, do not be deceived by popular practice of worship on the counterfeit day; this is not worshipping Me [God]. Especially is God concerned as he said  "....Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." is pending. This gave me reason for serious thoughts.

Editor's Note  This is the end of this series, by a retired pastor who died earlier this year.    

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