Counsels on Future Life

Counsel #2 — Characteristics Of God’s Last-Day Church

Picture: Counsel #2 — Characteristics Of God’s Last-Day Church CFL 28.1

The primary characteristics of God’s Last-Day Church are that they keep the “commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation 12:17 Members of God’s Last-Day Church will reflect Jesus’ unshakable confidence in God and the authority of Scripture. They believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah who fulfills biblical prophecy, and their faith encompasses all the truths of the Bible, especially those truths under attack in the time directly preceding the second coming of Jesus.^[24] CFL 28.2

“And the dragon [Satan, see Revelation 12:9) was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17 NKJV CFL 28.3

“Those who love and keep the commandments of God are most obnoxious to the synagogue of Satan, and the powers of evil will manifest their hatred toward them to the fullest extent possible. John foresaw the conflict between the remnant church and the power of evil, and said ‘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.’” Ellen White in Review and Herald, April 14, 1896 CFL 28.4

Reflect: What can you do to strengthen your confidence in God and have a growing faith in the authority of Scripture? CFL 28.5