The
Image to the Beast Set Up
[He]
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which
he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on
the earth, that they should make an image to the beast. Rev. 13:14.
The image
of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great
test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided....
In Revelation
13 this subject is plainly presented: "I beheld another beast coming
up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth
the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly
wound was healed." Then the miracle-working power is revealed: "And
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which
he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on
the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound
by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as
many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he
causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive
a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy
or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number
of his name."
This is
the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who
prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a
spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and
will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly
origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast....
While John
was shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers, he was
also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful....
Looking beyond the smoke and din of the battle, he beheld a company upon Mount
Zion with the Lamb, having, instead of the mark of the beast, the "Father's
name written in their foreheads."
