12.2 Sealed for Heaven
The Sign of Faithfulness in the Final Conflict

In the upcoming crisis of worship, the faithful people of God will not succumb to worldly pressure. They will be sealed by the Holy Spirit and remain steadfast by adhering to God’s law and authority. In ancient times, seals served as marks of authenticity for official documents. As the final conflict revolves around worship and God’s authority, as revealed in His law, we would expect God’s seal to be embedded in His law.

Read Exodus 20:8–11. What elements of a seal are included in the Sabbath commandment?

In the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8–11, we find three important elements of a genuine seal:

1. The Name: The seal belongs to the LORD our God.

2. His Title: He is the one who made – the Creator.

3. His Domain: Heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

These elements of a seal are at the heart of the Sabbath commandment. The Sabbath is not only designated as a day of rest but also as a holy day that reminds us of God’s creation and reaffirms His sovereignty over the universe.

In the Bible, seals are sometimes also referred to as signs. These two terms are interchangeable. The Sabbath as God’s sign or seal is at the center of the final conflict over worship (Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Revelation 12:17). Observing it acknowledges God’s authority over our lives and serves as a reminder that He is our Creator and Lord.

Compare Revelation 7:1–3 and 14:1 with Revelation 13:16–17. Where are the seal of God and the mark of the beast received? Why do you think there is a difference?

In Revelation 7:1–3 and 14:1, the seal of God is placed on the forehead. The forehead symbolizes the mind and signifies a conscious decision. This indicates that those who receive the seal of God make a clear and conscious choice to submit to God’s will.

In contrast, the mark of the beast in Revelation 13:16–17 is received either on the forehead or on the hand. This suggests that people are intellectually convinced and of their own accord accept Satan’s lies or adapt to false worship to avoid being killed. It means that they either follow the beast and its false system in their thinking or in their actions.

The difference in the placement of God’s seal and the mark of the beast reflects the different states of the heart and decisions of people. Those who receive God’s seal do so from a clear understanding and a conscious dedication to God. They are firmly anchored in their faithfulness to Christ and hold fast to God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus. On the other hand, those who accept the mark of the beast do so either out of conviction or adaptation to the threats of the beast’s system.

Overall, the Great Controversy reaches its climax when the dragon (Satan) wages war against the faithful remnant, “those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). Despite the pressure and temptations, they remain steadfast in their faithfulness to Christ and steadfastly hold to God’s commandments.

Why is daily faithfulness to God the key to being prepared when the final crisis begins?

Daily faithfulness to God is the key to being prepared when the final crisis begins for several reasons:

1. Strengthening of Faith: Through daily communication with God, prayer, and the study of His word, our faith is strengthened. A strong faith is crucial to withstand the challenges of the final crisis.

2. Recognition of Truth: Through regular study of the Bible, we come to know God’s truth and distinguish it from the deceptions of the world. This enables us to remain firmly anchored in truth when lies and false teachings abound around us.

3. Character Strengthening: Daily faithfulness to God helps shape our character according to God’s standards. It helps us develop virtues such as patience, love, faithfulness, and self-control, which support us in times of crisis.

4. Communion with God: Daily relationship with God allows us to sense His presence and experience His guidance in our lives. This close relationship gives us peace and security, even amidst the greatest challenges.

5. Preparation for Spiritual Warfare: Daily faithfulness to God strengthens us in spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness. When the final crisis begins, we will need spiritual armor and resilience to withstand the attacks of evil.

Overall, daily faithfulness to God is crucial to being prepared when the final crisis begins because it strengthens us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, giving us the endurance and steadfastness needed to courageously face the challenges of faith.

The daily faithfulness to God, as depicted in the Sabbath commandment and in the conflict over the seal of God and the mark of the beast, has a direct connection to our daily lives and our faith.

1. Sabbath Commandment and Daily Life: The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8–11 emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a holy day that reminds us of God’s creation and His authority over our lives. The elements of a genuine seal contained in the Sabbath commandment are at the heart of this commandment. The Sabbath is not just a day of rest but also a day on which we consciously remember God’s creation and His authority over our lives. This recognition shapes our daily lives by permeating our actions and decisions, reminding us that God is our Creator and Lord.

2. Faith and Decisions: Revelation describes how the seal of God is placed on the forehead, while the mark of the beast is received either on the forehead or on the hand. This distinction reflects the states of the heart and the decisions of people. Daily faithfulness to God is the key to being prepared for the final crisis. This faithfulness is sealed by the Holy Spirit and gives believers the strength to resist worldly pressure. This affects their daily lives, decisions, and relationship with God.

3. Conflict over Worship and Daily Life: The conflict over the seal of God and the mark of the beast shows how faith is rooted in our daily lives. Daily faithfulness to God is the key to remaining steadfast in this crisis. This faithfulness is sealed by the Holy Spirit and gives believers the strength to resist worldly pressure. This affects their daily lives, decisions, and relationship with God.

Overall, the connection between the Sabbath commandment, the conflict over the seal of God and the mark of the beast, and our daily lives shows that daily faithfulness to God is crucial to remaining steadfast in times of crisis. It influences our mindset, decisions, and actions and strengthens our faith by reminding us that God is our Creator and Lord, whom we should faithfully follow.

Daily faithfulness to God is the key to being prepared when the final crisis begins, as it strengthens us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, giving us the endurance and steadfastness needed to courageously face the challenges of faith.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-12-earths-closing-events-12-2-sealed-for-heaven/

Lesson 12.Earth’s Closing Events 
Faithfulness, Outpouring of the Spirit, and the Ultimate Call 

In Lesson 12, we will delve into an extremely important topic: the last events of the Earth. The prophecy of the Bible gives us insight into the end-time events that will unfold in the near future. It is crucial that we understand these events as they will have a direct impact on our faith and daily lives. The Revelation of John, especially chapters 13 and 14, provides us with a detailed view of the events that will occur in the last days of humanity. We will closely examine the signs of the times and understand how we can personally prepare for them. The world as we know it is rapidly approaching a pivotal moment, and it is of utmost importance that we, as a believing community, remain vigilant and correctly interpret the signs of the times. Let us, therefore, together delve into the depths of the Holy Scriptures to understand the last events of the Earth and prepare ourselves accordingly.

12.1 Loyalty to God and His Word
The Power of Biblical Truth in the Great Controversy

Read Proverbs 23:2 and John 8:32; 17:17. What do these verses have in common?

The verses Proverbs 23:2 and John 8:32; 17:17 all share a common focus on truth. In Proverbs 23:2, it says: “When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you.” This verse warns against being seduced by false promises or deceptions.

John 8:32 says: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of truth in attaining freedom.

In John 17:17, Jesus says in His prayer: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Here, it is made clear that God’s Word is the source of truth, bringing salvation and redemption.

These verses teach us that faithfulness to God and His Word means recognizing and accepting the truth to be liberated from the deceptions of Satan. God’s Word is the source of truth that guards us against deception and guides us in His will.

Read 2 Peter 1:16–21. What assurance does the apostle give us regarding prophecy? What illustration does he use to demonstrate the importance of God’s prophetic word?

The apostle assures us in 2 Peter 1:16–21 that the prophecy in God’s Word is reliable and illuminates the path before us. He emphasizes that they are not “cleverly devised stories” but divine revelation. The illustration he uses to demonstrate the importance of God’s prophetic word is that of light shining in a dark place. Just as a light in darkness shows us the way, God’s prophetic word guides us and helps us distinguish between truth and error. Without the Bible, we would be subject to the whims of human opinions and could easily be deceived. The Holy Scripture is our protection against the influence of false teachings and the deceptive power of the spirits of darkness. Satan will use every means to prevent us from gaining knowledge of the Bible because the clear statements of the Bible expose his deceptions.

The final great deception will soon be revealed. The Antichrist will perform his great deeds before our eyes, and the counterfeit will be so similar to the genuine that only through the Holy Scripture will distinction be possible. In this final great confrontation, only those whose spirits are strengthened by the truths of the Bible will remain steadfast. Each of us must ask ourselves, “Should I obey God rather than men?” The hour of decision is approaching. Are we firmly standing on the rock of God’s unchanging Word? Are we prepared to take a clear stand for God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus?

Reflect on the questions in the above quote. What will enable us to endure in the last crisis? What prevents us from studying the Word of God? Where are we in danger of compromising truth for personal pleasure?

In the last crisis, our steadfastness will enable us to endure, based on the study and acceptance of the Word of God. Only through a deep understanding and a personal relationship with God’s Word will we be able to resist the deceptions and temptations of the last days.

Various factors can prevent us from studying the Word of God. The most common include lack of time, distractions by worldly affairs, lack of prioritization, and even spiritual lethargy. Sometimes, false teachings or misinterpretations of the Word hinder us from truly understanding and appreciating the Bible.

We compromise truth for personal pleasure when we allow ourselves to be tempted to distort or interpret God’s Word to suit our own desires and preferences, rather than submitting to divine truth. When we selectively interpret the Bible to justify our own behavior, we risk deviating from the truth and deceiving ourselves.

The connection between our daily life and our faith is evident in these lessons. Faithfulness to God and His Word, as well as the power of biblical truth in the Great Controversy, have immediate implications for our daily lives:

1. Steadfastness in the last crisis: Our steadfastness in the last crisis is enabled by our understanding and acceptance of the Word of God. A solid knowledge of Scripture and a personal relationship with God through His Word will enable us to resist the temptations and deceptions of the last days. This means that our daily life is strongly influenced by our relationship with the Bible and our faith.

2. Obstacles to studying the Word of God: Our daily life may prevent us from studying the Word of God. Lack of time, distractions by worldly affairs, lack of prioritization, and spiritual lethargy are common obstacles. Also, false teachings or misinterpretations of the Word can prevent us from truly understanding and appreciating the Bible. This underscores the importance of setting our daily priorities accordingly to make time for studying the Bible.

3. Danger of compromising truth for personal pleasure: There is a danger of compromising truth for personal pleasure when we are tempted to distort or interpret God’s Word to suit our own desires and preferences, instead of submitting to divine truth. When we selectively interpret the Bible to justify our own behavior, we risk deviating from the truth and deceiving ourselves. This highlights the importance of being vigilant in our daily lives and being aware of how we understand and apply God’s Word.

Faithfulness to God’s Word is the rock on which our steadfastness rests in the storms of life.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-12-earths-closing-events-12-1-loyalty-to-god-and-his-word/



Sam and David are joined by Elder Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, who talks about his and his family’s experiences as missionaries in West Africa and the former Soviet Union in the 1980s and 1990s.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/mission-150-episode-43-from-west-africa-to-the-former-soviet-union-a-20th-century-missionary-family/



David and Sam are joined again by historian Michael Campbell to talk about early Adventist mission in the South Pacific islands, and especially in Fiji. They discuss not only early missionaries but also early indigenous converts, thanks to whom the preaching of the Adventist message really took off.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/mission-150-episode-42-indigenizing-adventist-mission-the-south-pacific/