The End Times Lessons from Bel and the Dragon

The reapers who appear in biblical and historical accounts serve as powerful symbols of the final judgment and the work of salvation carried out by God’s heavenly messengers 🌾.

The Divine Identity of the Reapers

The reapers are the angels of God Matthew 13:39PTUK August 23, 1894, page 541.14. This identification was explicitly taught by Jesus Christ when He explained that the harvest represents the end of the world and the reapers assigned to gather it are the angels2SP 249.1+2. These heavenly beings are commissioned to separate the "wheat"—those who have kept the word of God in their hearts—from the "tares," or those who have rejected itPTUK August 23, 1894, page 541.14+1.

The Work of the Harvest

The role of the reapers is multifaceted and occurs at the closing of the ageARSH March 13, 1856, page 188.17+1:

• Separation: Angels are sent forth to gather out of the kingdom all things that offend and those who do iniquity2SP 249.1+1.

• Protection of the Righteous: While the wicked are gathered to be destroyed, the precious grain—the children of the kingdom—is gathered into the heavenly barn Matthew 13:309MR 137.2+1.

• Final Reward: After the reapers complete their work, the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matthew 13:432SP 249.1+1.

Reapers in Human History and Prophecy

Beyond the direct angelic application, the concept of reaping is used to describe the labor of those working for the salvation of souls today:

• Collaborative Labor: God employs both human sowers and reapers in His harvest field, where one may sow and another reaps, yet both will eventually rejoice together John 4:37GW 409.1+1.

• Gentle Conduct: The character of a true laborer is seen in figures like Boaz, who showed respect and kindness to his reapers, saying, "The Lord be with you"KJV — Ruth 2:3+1.

• Urgency of the Task: The fields are described as "white already to harvest," indicating an immediate need for workers to join the angels in the closing work of the gospelDA 191.4+2.

The Final Harvest of the Earth

In the final scenes of prophecy, the Son of Man is seen sitting upon a white cloud with a sharp sickle Revelation 14:14SITI August 21, 1901, page 553.2. An angel cries out with a loud voice for Him to thrust in the sickle because the harvest of the earth is ripe Revelation 14:15SC3 228.2+1. This signifies that the time of probation has ended and the reapers are ready to gather the saints home to the mansions prepared for themHvn 55.2+1.

The history of Bel and the dragon serves as a powerful illustration of the ultimate triumph of truth over idolatry, pointing forward to the final judgment and the end of the world 🌌.

The Destruction of Idolatry

The collapse of the Babylonian religious systems, including the worship of the god Bel, was a severe wound to sensuous idol worship that had dominated for centuriesSITI September 10, 1885, page 548.12. This historical fall of Babylon is a type of the final fall of all false systems of religion at the end of timeRCASDA 65.3+1. Just as the idols of Bel and Merodach were broken to the ground, the great day of judgment will see all worldlings casting their idols of silver and gold to the moles and bats for fear of the Lord's majesty Isaiah 2:20-21+1COL 372.2+1.

The Final Conflict and the Dragon

The contest over worship that existed in ancient Babylon is a precursor to the final struggle between the people of God and the powers of the earthSITI September 2, 1886, page 536.4. The dragon, which is identified as the devil and Satan, has worked through various earthly instruments throughout history to destroy God's people Revelation 12:9GCB/GCDB 1893, page 123.1+1. In the last days, this warfare reaches its climax as the dragon makes war with the remnant of the woman's seed who keep the commandments of God Revelation 12:17ST November 14, 1895, par. 4+1.

Connection to the End of the World

The message warning against the worship of the beast and his image is the last work of God preceding the coming of Christ on the cloud of His glorySITI September 2, 1886, page 536.4. Several key factors link these themes to the end of the world:

• The Harvest: Jesus explicitly stated that "the harvest is the end of the world" Matthew 13:39.

• The Seven Last Plagues: The final penalty for the worship of the beast and his image is the wine of the wrath of God, contained in the seven last plagues, which conclude with the end of the world Revelation 14:9-10SITI September 2, 1886, page 536.4+1.

• The Execution of Judgment: The Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon the ungodly, a scene described by Enoch and fulfilled at the end of the world Jude 14-1521MR 348.4+1.

The Triumph of the Saints

When the contest begins, it will continue until the end of the world and be decided only by the coming of the Lord in His glorySITI September 2, 1886, page 536.4. Those who are loyal to Christ will eventually stand on the sea of glass, having obtained the victory over the beast, his image, and his mark Revelation 15:2SITI September 2, 1886, page 536.4+1. The final scenes of earth will feature the destruction of those who reject the truth, while the righteous will be delivered and translated to their heavenly homeSH 108.3+1.

The experience of Daniel in Babylon and the symbols of Bel and the dragon provide a perfect prophetic outline of the final crisis concerning worship and the law of God 🌌.

Bel and the Spurious Sabbath

The worship of Bel and the exaltation of human institutions over God’s commands represents the establishment of the Sunday lawDD 32.1+1. The Papacy, as the "man of sin," has attempted to change the law of God by substituting the seventh-day Sabbath with the pagan festival of Sunday Daniel 7:25ARSH April 28, 1853, page 198.5. This "child of the Papacy" is being nourished until Protestantism gives the hand of fellowship to Rome, leading to laws that punish the transgression of the first day of the week7BC 910.4+1. This false sabbath is an "idol sabbath" set up in direct opposition to the fourth commandmentRH April 29, 1890, par. 9+1.

The Dragon and Satan's Personation

The dragon represents Satan, who is the master spirit behind every law made to exalt the false sabbathST September 14, 1882, par. 4+1. In the final conflict, Satan will take the field and personate Christ, misapplying and perverting everything possible to deceive the worldLDE 162.3. He works with miraculous presentations and delusive power to confirm men in the belief that he is the prince of this world4BC 1153.2. Just as the dragon in Babylon was a deceptive object of worship, Satan uses the image of the beast—the union of church and state power—to compel the world to honor his authority instead of God's Revelation 13:15GCB/GCDB 1893, page 71.8+1.

The Lions' Den and the Death Decree

Daniel’s experience in the lions' den is a direct parallel to the final test where a decree of death is issued against those who remain loyal to GodPr 145.2+1.

• The Nefarious Decree: Just as Daniel’s enemies consulted together to establish a royal statute that would make his faithfulness a crime, world leaders will ignore the law of God and urge the observance of Sunday as a man-made institutionChS 155.2+1.

• The Testing Time: When Sunday observance is enforced by law, those who refuse to yield the truth of heavenly origin will face the "wrath of the dragon" Revelation 12:1715MR 15.3+1.

• The Death Penalty: The decree against Daniel carried a penalty of death by lions, just as the image of the beast will eventually cause as many as would not worship it to be killed Revelation 13:15SITI January 28, 1886, page 59.7+1.

The Assurance of Deliverance

Though the servants of God face trial and gloom, they can remain as true as steel to principle, just as Daniel did13MR 100.2+1.

• Divine Protection: The same God who sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths will encamp round about those who fear Him in the last days Psalms 34:7Pr 145.2+1.

• Integrity Rewarded: Daniel was delivered because "innocency was found in him" and he "believed in his God" Daniel 6:22-23SDP 86.3.

• Final Victory: While the wicked who plot against God’s people will eventually perish in the snares they have laid, the faithful will receive the seal of the living God and be admitted through the gates into the holy city Revelation 22:14CCh 53.5+2.