Warning! by E. Hilliard

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 31, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, October 31, 1916

Warning!

By E. Hilliard

No other message of warning that has been given to the world has embraced such terrible results, if disregarded, and such a glorious victory, if obeyed, as that penned by the apocalyptic prophet on the Isle of Patmos. Listen to God's last solemn warning to a rebellious world:

"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation." Rev. 14: 9, 10.

This is a warning to every individual; for it reads, "If any man worship the beast," whether he be a papist, a Baptist, a Methodist, or a Seventh-day Adventist, he will surely receive the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Is it possible that those who profess to believe God's holy word, can set aside with incredulity such a solemn prophetic warning?

Suppose that one does not understand what the "beast," his "image," or his "mark" is. Is any way provided by which such a one may escape the impending wrath of God? — Yes; for a blessing is pronounced upon all who hear, read, and keep the things contained in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Rev. 1: 1-3.

All who will give prayerful heed to the solemn warning will surely gain the victory in the coming contest. A refuge is pointed out in the twelfth verse of Revelation 14: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

No saint will worship the "beast" or his "image," or "receive his mark," whatever they may be. But what are the saints doing that shields them from this false worship? There is but one answer; that is, they are keeping the commandments of God by faith in Jesus. Whoever centers his faith in Christ, and thereby keeps the commandments of God just as they were written by the divine finger on the tables of stone, will never bow to the beast or his image, or receive his mark. But all who refuse to regulate their lives by this great moral standard will reject the warning, worship the beast, and eternally perish.

It is evident that no violator of God's law will have his name written in the book of life. He who offends in one point of the law is a guilty man. James 2: 10-12. And the Scriptures teach us that all whose names are not written in the book of life will worship the beast. Rev. 13: 4-8.

May God grant that the reader and the writer may both be found on the loyal side in the coming conflict, and at last stand with the eternal victors revealed to the apostle John in holy vision: "And I saw . . . them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, . . . stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." Rev. 15: 2. E. HILLIARD.