48

The churches are now working hard, and have brought a bill into the House to secure such an amendment to the Constitution as will give the government the right to legislate freely on religion.* The features, or characteristics, here presented are, no doubt, sufficient to show that the United States of America is symbolized by the twohorned beast.

The clouds of persecution are evidently gathering about us. Quite a number of humble believers in Christ have. already suffered because they have obeyed the commandments of God. We know not how soon the storm will break loose in all its force. It is of the greatest importance to us to watch and pray, and to be diligent students in the school of Christ. Let us not be deceived by the flattery and pleasures of the world, nor by a religion "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

"149

We wrestle not against flesh and blood alone, but 'against spiritual wickedness in high places." How important, therefore, the kind exhortation of the apostle : 'Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having overcome all [margin], to stand." 50

Have you, dear reader, thought soberly of this matter? Do you know on which side you stand in this controversy ?

48 This will be presented more definitely in another chapter.

CHAPTER IV.

THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND ON MOUNT ZION.

As

S soon as the prophet has presented the persecuting power and plainly pointed out its work, he presents. those who are persecuted. And just as he has given us some distinct features of the persecuting power, whereby we are enabled to know it when it appears on the stage of action, so he likewise points out some plain characteristics whereby we may know the true worshipers of God.

Characteristics of the Worshipers of God.

"And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the throne of God." 1

These verses evidently belong to the same subject as Rev. 13: 11-18. They speak of those who are persecuted by the second beast, and who overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. This

shows that there will be at last many thousands of believers who will obey the message of God and refuse to receive. the mark of the beast.

The Seal of the Living God.

That the hundred and forty-four thousand have the Father's name written in their foreheads shows that they have chosen to keep the commandments of God instead of receiving the mark of the beast.2

The same company of a hundred and forty-four thousand saints is also spoken of in Rev. 7:2-8. The first verse speaks of the angels of God as superintending the events that are going on in the world. In his wonderful providence God so directs the course of events that the work which he wants to carry on among his children on earth shall not be stayed by the oppressing powers. To this work belongs the sealing of the servants of God.

"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." 3

When the hundred and forty-four thousand stand on mount Zion, they have the Father's name written in their foreheads," and they are sealed with the "seal of the living God" in their foreheads." This shows that the seal of God contains the Father's name.

5

Circumcision was a sign and a seal of the righteousness which Abraham had by faith. The believing Corinthians were a seal, or sign, of Paul's apostleship. To depart

from iniquity is a seal, or sign, of the firm foundation of God. Ezekiel describes how the angel of God sets a mark, or sign on the foreheads of God's children that they may

not be destroyed with the wicked. So likewise the angel of Rev. 7:2, places the mark, or seal, of the living God upon his servants. This shows plainly that the Father's name or the seal of God is a sign, or mark, by which the servants of God are distinguished, and it is a sign, or mark, of the authority of God, just as the mark of the beast, or papal power, is a sign of its authority. And just as Christ points out his mark, or sign, in his word, and wants his followers to accept it, so the antichristian power points out the sign, or mark, of its authority and wants all men to accept it."

A seal is used in connection with a law demanding obedience.1 Thus it was anciently, and thus it is still. The authority of a document of law is proved by its seal. So likewise the law of God has a seal; and the Father's name is in the seal.

"11

The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the gospel time, says: "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." The gospel has been mixed with human traditions, but those who wait upon the Lord will again proclaim it in its purity. The seal of the law has been set. aside, but will appear again in its original form when Jesus "will magnify the law and make it honorable." 12 The Lord will graciously write his law in the hearts of his children under the new covenant. 13 Then they will "call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord." "

The Law of God Contains His Seal.

The above considerations show that the seal of God is found in connection with his law, and that the seal of God

8 Eze. 9: 4-6.

9 If any one should doubt this, please obtain a small pamphlet called "Rome's Challenge," and read it. That will settle the question. Address, Review & Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.

10 1 Kings 21:8; 11 Isa. 8: 16.

Esther 8: 8.

12 Isa. 42: 21.

13 Heb. 8: 10.

14 Isa. 58: 13.

is that part of the law which contains his name and proves the authority of the law. The ten commandments are the only law which God has written with his own finger and spoken with his own voice. 15 They contain a brief summary of our duties to God and our fellow-men. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." 16 Jesus testifies of the law of God that he did not come to destroy it, and that "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than far one tittle of the law to fail."1

At

The decalogue was written on two tables of stone. the end of the first table we find the fourth commandment, which ordains that men shall keep holy the seventh day because it is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. The great foundation of this commandment is the work of the Creator in the beginning, and this is indeed a firm foundation. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."

"18

Here is his

The words

This is the only commandment in the decalogue which makes known the authority of the lawgiver. name and title: Creator of heaven and earth. "Lord" and " God" are also found in the other commandments; but they do not point out which Lord they have reference to, neither do they say anything about the foundation of his authority. There are "gods many, and lords many," "9 but the fourth commandment states plainly which Lord we are to worship. It is the God who made heaven and earth, and who made us and gives us life, with all its blessings. He has indeed the right to make known. his holy will and to require obedience.

15 Ex. 31: 18; 32: 16; Deut. 5: 22.

17 Luke 16: 17; Matt. 5: 18.

19 I Cor. 8: 5.

16 Eccl. 12: 13.

18 Ex. 20: II.