Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation…
[The Great Controversy pp 607] As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is, “Show us from the Word of God our error,“—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances.
Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths. Conscientious obedience to the Word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant.
God is now calling the inhabitants of earth to awake out of slumber. It is of critical importance for us to be anchored in Christ, so that as the storm unfolds, and as the heat of the furnace would be ratcheted up several notches, persons would not succumb to the pressure to bow down. We therefore end with the passage of scripture that Jesus then used to rebuff quid pro quo, because if, and when folks are offered access to the kingdoms of this world, in exchange for worship to the beast, there is only one appropriate answer we can think of.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!