The Mark of the Beast

GOD’S ANSWERS TO MAN’S EXCUSES FOR NOT KEEPING HIS SABBATH

Excuse 1. It is inconvenient to keep the seventh day. MOB 12.1

Answer. (Matthew 16:24.) “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Chap 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27. MOB 12.2

Excuse 2. I have a family to support; it will interfere with my business. MOB 12.3

Answer. (Matthew 16:25, 26.) “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Chap 6:24, 31-33; Luke 12:15-37; 1 Timothy 4:8; Psalm 37:3; Isaiah 65:13, 14. MOB 12.4

Excuse 3. Everybody keeps the first day. MOB 12.5

Answer. (Matthew 7:13, 14.) “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Proverbs 11:21; 16:5. MOB 12.6

Excuse 4. Many learned men teach that it is right. MOB 13.1

Answer. (Hosea 10:13.) “Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25-27; Revelation 18:23. MOB 13.2

Excuse 5. We are unlearned, and must look to them for instruction. MOB 13.3

Answer. (Proverbs 19:27.) “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7. MOB 13.4

Excuse 6. The laws of our country enforce it. MOB 13.5

Answer. (Acts 4:19.) “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Chap 5:29; Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10. MOB 13.6

Excuse 7. It causes trouble and division. MOB 13.7

Answer. (Luke 12:51, 52.) “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. For from henceforth there shall be five, in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.” Verse 49; Matthew 10:34-37; John 15:19; 17:14; 1 Kings 18:17, 18. MOB 13.8

Excuse 8. I should lose my influence and bring reproach. MOB 13.9

Answer. (Matthew 5:11, 12.) “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Luke 6:22, 23, 26; 1 John 4:5. MOB 13.10

Excuse 9. It makes no difference what day I keep, if I keep it right MOB 13.11

Answer. (Exodus 20:9, 10.) “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Matthew 15:3, 9. To keep any day right is to keep it as God’s law directs; otherwise his law is not right. To keep every day right is to work on the first six and rest the seventh. MOB 13.12

Excuse 10. I am afraid of new doctrines. MOB 14.1

Answer. (Exodus 20:11.) “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.” Genesis 2, 3. MOB 14.2

Excuse 11. I do not think these old laws are binding. MOB 14.3

Answer. (Jeremiah 6:16.) “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Chap 18:15. MOB 14.4

Excuse 12. The apostle teaches that old things are passed away. MOB 14.5

Answer. (2 Corinthians 5:17.) “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” The “old man” of sin must pass away. Then the man becomes new—not the law. MOB 14.6

Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” MOB 14.7

Revelation 22:14. “Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” MOB 14.8

“The word of the Lord endureth forever.” MOB 14.9