In the first angel’s message given in Revelation 14, God calls on the inhabitants of earth to “Worship Him”, for the issue of worship will culminate in the mark of the beast, the enforcement of Sunday worship, and ultimately, the close of human probation. However, before we begin, it’s important for us to understand the many ways in which false worship is manifested currently in our day, so that the true worship of God may be made plain from the scriptures.
Worship is not merely about whom we adore, it’s ultimately about whom, or what we will obey, for worship will always lead to obedience of the object of worship. If money is our god, then whatsoever it takes to obtain it will be done, including over-work, lying, stealing, fraud, overwork & false advertising.
The illicit drug trade, and the current epidemic of opioid abuse is a direct result of sellers worshiping money. In fact, drug addiction has more to do with legal drugs, than with illegal, for with big pharma, as well as with drug dealers on the street, worshipping “mean green” and doing whatsoever is necessary to procure a profit, is the main, motivating factor in most cases.
De-regulation is an attempt to make more money, and therefore, if persons get hurt, poisoned, or are overprescribed pain medications in the process, to make a profit, then it will be done. And if consumer protections are removed, so that loan sharks, and financial institutions can prey upon the vulnerable, and the unwary, in their efforts to milk individuals, then, it is worship of the greenback taking place.
If self is our god, then whatsoever it takes to obtain praise and flattery will be done. This includes, but is not limited to slavery to fashion, slavery to cosmetic surgeries, and implants for self-adoration purposes. Self-worship includes all efforts to draw attention to oneself for purposes of enhancing one’s self-image or promoting self-interests and accomplishments.
In fact, the worship of self ultimately leads us to the use of force, which is a satanic principle, born out of the effort to exalt himself. When persons are bent on self-worship, they will stop at nothing to reach at the top of the totem pole, and in the process, many families may be torn apart, and the indiscriminate use of brute force will be manifested, as was seen in Florida this past week.
Adultery is also a form of false worship, for it drives persons to obey the lusts of the flesh, instead of the word of God. When Adam chose Eve over God, and when Abraham obeyed the voice of Sarah, in having Hagar, also, when Solomon chose to be inundated with hundreds of wives and concubines, it was false worship being manifested, for worship always leads one to follow the dictates of the persons, or objects of worship. Always!
The time has come for us to speak bluntly, because candy-coating the everlasting gospel will result in a tremendous loss of life. Christians, and all believers who do not gain the victory over adultery, will end up receiving the mark of the beast, for adultery is a form of false worship, and will ultimately lead folks into every other type of false worship, including the worship of the sun, via the substitute day of rest. Let’s read:
1st Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely, they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
[Prophets & kings. pp 58] From being one of the greatest kings that ever wielded a scepter, Solomon became a profligate, the tool, and slave of others. His character, once noble and manly, became enervated and effeminate. His faith in the living God was supplanted by atheistic doubts. He mistook license for liberty. He tried—but at what cost!—to unite light with darkness, good with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial.
Thus, before we embark upon our study of the true worship, we must first go back to the place, and the time when the issues of false worship first surfaced. Lucifer was not at all content with his God-ordained position, but instead sought the highest place, so that the adoration and praise which belongs to God alone, could be his.
In the process of time, he succeeded in alienating one third of the angelic host, who joined him in his quest for self-praise. This ultimately led to violence in heaven, when it was discovered that self-worship is entirely out of harmony with God’s character.
Then war broke out, he was expelled from heaven, and the rest is history, for the issue of worship came to our own planet, and ever since the fall of our first parents, the question has divided humanity into one of two major categories, those who will deliberately choose forms of alternative worship, and those who will ultimately choose to worship God, according to what He has commanded in His word.
It is true that in times of ignorance, sincere persons have been sucked into erroneous forms of worship, but when the issue finally bubbles to the surface, or when light from God’s word has shone on the issue, the honest in heart have chosen, and will choose to worship God. Thus, here’s a brief history of the very beginning of false worship with its inevitable results down through the ages. Let’s read:
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
It is worthy of note that those two, character traits, violence and all types of lying, are predominantly on display now for they are the direct result of invisible forces of darkness, working to unite the world upon the issue of false worship. And that’s the reason for the current insatiable desire for praise, and flattery, approbation, worship, and loyalty, on the part of some individuals.
Here in the sunshine state of Florida, we suffer from the destructive work of termites, that are notorious for causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and trees, yet, very few persons have seen termites at work, for we are only aware of their presence by their droppings.
The same is true of the infernal work of evil spirits, for although they are invisible, yet their “droppings” such as the desire for praise and flattery, adultery, fraud, continual, and profuse lying, and the use of force are being made manifest in places high, and low, and as is evidenced by the daily reports about ballooning transgressions, cover-ups, and extortion.
In fact, the first murder on this planet was over the issue of worship, and the last will be over the same. Wherever the worship of God, is exchanged for any man-made form of worship, there, violence, murder and every type of evil work is certain to follow. Let’s read:
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
There was no valid reason for Cain to slay Abel, for Abel was a law-abiding citizen, paying his taxes, and contributing to the welfare of society, and trying to live “peaceably” with all men. Thus, if his brother so chose to worship God in his own way, by bringing a fruit, instead of a lamb, as God had commanded, it would be his own choice.
The problem is that false worship often tends not to tolerate true worship, and thus, religious liberty and the freedom for persons to worship God, according to the dictates of their own conscience, breeds the spirit of discontent, and covetousness in the hearts of those who deliberately choose any false worship, which always, and ultimately leads such persons to the use of force. Let’s read:
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 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.
15 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.
16 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:
17 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.
[D.A. pp 435>436] Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.
Thus, because we are inundated with false worship of every type of false god, and since there is blatant self-worship, and an insatiable desire for praise, and applause of men, in high and low places, God is now calling on the inhabitants of earth to worship “Him”. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear 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.
Proper Sabbath observance is not only about rest, it is more about obedience to God’s specific word, by recognizing Him as The Creator of the heavens, and the earth. Other practical reasons are given in the scriptures for resting over the sacred hours, among which is the fact that the Lord also rested from His work, thereby giving us the example that we should follow.
Furthermore, Christ tells us that the Sabbath was made for all men, meaning that it was given for the benefit humanity. However, worshipping God over the sacred hours of the Sabbath, is never primarily about rest, rejuvenation, and spending quality time with one’s family, because these are the very same reasons given by some on the opposite side of the fence.
Any individual can rest and be rejuvenated and can spend quality time with family and brethren on any day of the week; but the Sabbath has to do with the specific day God ordained for such activities to take place. In fact, the reasons for a cyclical rest might be quite similar on both sides of the issue, however it’s obedience to the word of God which would make all the difference.
Thus, worship is more about obedience, than it is about praise and adoration. That’s why Jesus was moved to raise a remonstrance against the practice of giving much praise, without the corresponding obedience required, for praise minus obedience is equal to flattery, and ultimately leads to rebellion, as was the case with Cain. Let’s read:
Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.
Therefore, Sabbath keeping is first and foremost, an acknowledgement that we are created, and as such we are not autonomous beings, nor do we exist in a vacuum, nor did we begin life by accident. Instead, we were created by an intelligent, all-wise God, and are therefore accountable to Him who made us.
The theory of evolution would not be existence in our school curriculum if we were worshipping God according to the scripture. Here is where millions of Christians have stumbled, for Christ is worshipped in His capacity as Savior, but not as Creator, which is the primary reason given in the Bible. Having Christ and evolution on the same page is the equivalent of trying to have Baal and God sitting in the same seat.
The Sabbath rest also constitutes a rebuke against that materialism, and pursuit of gain, that drives us to extremes in getting and accumulating, and which often causes us to put our health at risk, and which effectively destroys the social, and moral fabric of our existence. Thus, the commonsense reasons, as well as the sacred commandment, were enshrined as permanent institutions for the up-liftment, and benefit of the human family. Let’s read:
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Deuteronomy 5:13 Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work:
14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
Exodus 31:13 Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.
Now, even though Sunday worship incorporates some of the principles of rest enumerated in the fourth commandment, yet it is quite incapable of producing the same good results, for the simple fact that God’s presence is not there, to sanctify it, and make it holy, neither has He ever commanded it, for it is God’s presence which makes all the difference between the seventh day Sabbath, and the other six working days of the week.
Thus, Sunday cannot, and will never be sacred, nor will it ever be accepted as a substitute by the God of heaven, for not only does Sunday-keeping refuse to acknowledge God as Creator, but it would inevitably lead to the final conflict, just as the issue of worship sparked the conflict with Cain.
In closing, it is necessary for all professed Christians, and those beyond, to have a clear knowledge of the issues pertaining to true worship. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is still valid, and pertains to us, just as much as it pertained to the Hebrews. Therefore, in all of the current deliberations behind the scenes, and in all of the efforts being made to bring America back to God, let us always remember to “Worship Him”, The Creator God. Let’s read:
Exodus 20: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 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.
Exodus 31:13 Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and the practice of His word.
God Bless!