The Three Angels’ Messages

“And receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand”

Diligent study urged to identify the mark—When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, He requires every person endowed with reasoning powers to heed the message. The fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image (Revelation 14:9-11), should lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies to learn what the mark of the beast is, and how they are to avoid receiving it.—The Great Controversy, 594 (1888, 1911) 3AM 87.1

Receiving the mark means to agree with the beast—The third angel’s message has been sent forth to the world, warning men against receiving the mark of the beast or of his image in their foreheads or in their hands. To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the word of God.—The Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen White Comments 7:979) 3AM 87.2

It was a great wonder for me that any could transgress the law of God and tread down His holy Sabbath, when such awful threatenings and denunciations were against them.... 3AM 87.3

... Those who would not receive the mark of the beast and his image when the decree goes forth, must have decision now to say, Nay, we will not regard the institution of the beast.—Early Writings, 65, 67 (1850) 3AM 88.1

Two signs of authority—In the issue of the great contest, two parties are developed: those who “worship the beast and his image,” and receive his mark, and those that receive “the seal of the living God,” who have “the Father’s name written in their foreheads.” [Revelation 14:9; 7:2; 14:1.] This is not a visible mark. 3AM 88.2

The seal of God, the token or sign of His authority, is found in the fourth commandment. This is the only precept of the Decalogue which points to God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, thus clearly distinguishing the true God from all false gods. Throughout the Scriptures the fact of God’s creative power is cited as proof that He is above all heathen deities. 3AM 88.3

The Sabbath enjoined by the fourth commandment was instituted to commemorate the work of creation, thus to keep the minds of men ever directed to the true and living God. Had the Sabbath always been kept, there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The sacred observance of God’s holy day would have led the minds of men to their Creator. Everything of nature would have brought Him to their remembrance, and would have borne witness to His power and His love. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. It points to God as the Creator, and is the sign of His rightful authority over the beings He has made. 3AM 88.4

What, then, is the mark of the beast but the spurious sabbath which the world has accepted in the place of the true? 3AM 88.5

The prophetic declaration that the papacy was to oppose and exalt itself “above all that is called God, or that is worshiped,” was strikingly fulfilled in the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. [2 Thessalonians 2:4.] Wherever the papal sabbath is honored in preference to the Sabbath of the Lord, there is the man of sin exalted above the Creator of the heavens and the earth.... 3AM 88.6

The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish Church. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false sabbath in the place of the true, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded. The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath, which has been accepted by the world in the place of the day of God’s appointment.—Manuscript 51, 1899 (April 2) 3AM 89.1

The mark of the beast is the opposite of the seal of God—The sign or seal of God is the observance of the seventh day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of His work of creation. “The Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, 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.” [Exodus 31:12, 13.] Here the Sabbath is clearly defined as a sign between God and His people. 3AM 89.2

The mark of the beast is the opposite of this, the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority, seen in the man of sin thinking to change times and laws, and those who acknowledge the authority of God. The worshipers of the beast are those that receive his mark in their foreheads and in their hands.—Manuscript 1, 1897 (January 11) 3AM 89.3

The Holy Spirit seals Christ’s servants—Christ Himself, our Redeemer and Mediator, was filled with the Holy Spirit. In giving the commission to His servants, He promised them the Holy Spirit, to act as their Counsellor and to give them the power necessary for the successful accomplishment of their work. The reception of the Holy Spirit would seal them for their work of preaching the gospel.—Manuscript 40, 1903 (May 4) 3AM 89.4

In the work that was accomplished on the day of Pentecost, we may see what can be done by the exercise of faith. Those who believed in Christ were sealed by the Holy Spirit.—Manuscript 85, 1903 (September 29) (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen White Comments 6:1055) 3AM 90.1

Being sealed means an unmovable settling into the truth—Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.—Manuscript 173, 1902 (September 15) (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen White Comments 4:1161) 3AM 90.2

Worshipers distinguished by regard for the Sabbath—While the worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment—since this is the sign of His creative power and the witness to His claim upon man’s reverence and homage—the worshipers of the beast will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down the Creator’s memorial, to exalt the institution of Rome. It was in behalf of the Sunday that popery first asserted its arrogant claims; and its first resort to the power of the state was to compel the observance of Sunday as “the Lord’s day.” But the Bible points to the seventh day, and not to the first, as the Lord’s day. Said Christ: “The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” The fourth commandment declares: “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord.” And by the prophet Isaiah the Lord designates it: “My holy day.” Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13.—The Great Controversy, 446, 447 (1888, 1911) 3AM 90.3

Sabbath observance a visible distinction—Those who truly believe in Christ will openly conform to the law of Jehovah. The Sabbath is the sign between God and His people, and we are to make visible our conformity to the law of God by observing the Sabbath. It is to be the mark of distinction between God’s chosen people and the world.—Manuscript 10, 1900 (January 29) (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen White Comments 7:949) 3AM 91.1

The great test question—The Sabbath is the great test question. It is the line of demarcation between the loyal and true, and the disloyal and transgressor. This Sabbath, God has enjoined; and those who claim to be commandment keepers, who believe that they are now under the proclamation of the third angel’s message, will see the important part the Sabbath of the fourth commandment holds in that message. It is the seal of the living God. They will not lessen the claims of the Sabbath to suit their business or convenience.—Manuscript 34, 1897 (April 16) (Selected Messages 3:423) 3AM 91.2

The testing truth for this time—The commandment of God that has been almost universally made void, is the testing truth for this time.... The time is coming when all those who worship God will be distinguished by this sign. They will be known as the servants of God, by this mark of their allegiance to Heaven. But all man-made tests will divert the mind from the great and important doctrines that constitute the present truth.—The Review and Herald, May 29, 1888 (Evangelism, 212) 3AM 91.3

Everyone will take sides—A corrupt union has been formed to tear down God’s memorial of creation, the seventh day which He hallowed and blessed, and gave to man to be a sign between God and His people, to be observed throughout their generation forever. A period is coming when every one will take sides between the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, and the spurious sabbath instituted by the man of sin. An idol sabbath has been set up as the golden image was set up in the plains of Dura. And as Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, issued a decree that all who would not bow down and worship this image should be killed, so a proclamation will be made that all who will not reverence the Sunday institution will be punished with imprisonment and death. Thus the Sabbath of the Lord is trampled under foot.—Manuscript 7a, 1896 (February 27) 3AM 92.1

The mark is still future—No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.—Manuscript 51, 1899 (April 2) (Evangelism, 234, 235) 3AM 92.2

Accountable for the light received—Many have gone into their graves in full faith that Sunday was the Sabbath. Through his deceptive power, Satan made of none effect the fourth commandment, and men taught for doctrine the commandments of men. Sunday, the child of [the] papacy, has been accepted and nourished and cherished by the religious world. They have looked upon Sunday as the Sabbath, the sanctified day of rest, when there is not a particle of Scriptural evidence to justify the claim of this spurious Sabbath. Through the agency of the man of sin, men have been led to exalt Sunday where the Sabbath of the Lord alone should be exalted. The Lord God of hosts is to be exalted, and His law is to be honored. In this day He has sent special light. The third angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, heralding to the inhabitants of the world the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. The third angel’s message is to go everywhere. It is to be proclaimed by the human agent, and it becomes every one who hears to be attentive to the heaven-sent message, and in no case to be careless, to refuse to hear or receive it; for it is a message from God to man. If we are rational beings, and the light has come to us, we shall be held accountable for it. But those who have not had the light which is now shining upon the people of God concerning the Sabbath question, will not be accountable for the light; for it has never been brought before them, and they have died without condemnation.—The Review and Herald, April 25, 1893 3AM 92.3

Everyone to have sufficient light to decide intelligently—Not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree [of Revelation 13:15-17] is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently. 3AM 93.1

The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.—The Great Controversy, 605 (1888, 1911) 3AM 94.1

God has given men the Sabbath as a sign between Him and them, as a test of their loyalty. Those who, after the light regarding God’s law comes to them, continue to disobey and exalt human laws above the law of God in the great crisis before us, will receive the mark of the beast.—Letter 98, 1900 (July 10) (Evangelism, 235) 3AM 94.2

Mark not received until decree is issued—If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false Sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls “My holy day,” you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place?—When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working-day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast, and refuse the seal of God. If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgments pronounced against the disobedient must fall upon us. But the seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.—The Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen White Comments 7:980) 3AM 94.3

More to be understood—The light that we have upon the third angel’s message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. All in regard to this matter is not yet understood, and will not be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. “Cry aloud; spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sin.” [Isaiah 58:1.] A message is to be given to arouse the churches. Every effort is to be made to give the light not only to our people, but to the world.—Letter 123, 1898 (March 3) (Testimonies for the Church 8:159, 160) 3AM 95.1

Christ to remain the great Center of attraction—The third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great Center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel’s message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had the first place.—Manuscript 84, 1894 (Selected Messages 1:383) 3AM 95.2