The Four Stages of the Sunday Law in Bible Prophecy.

Now we're going to shift the conversation into the four stages of the Sunday law. Now we saw the image of the beast which is a union of church and state. When church and state unite, these things are going to start happening. And again, I did the research for you, and we're going to go through it.

Now, the first thing I want to put out is a word of caution here. This is from Testimony for the Church, volume 17, paragraph 1. And the caution is this: "The light we have received upon the third angel's message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what he has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet fully understood." So, it's good to keep in mind there are some things we do not know. So, even as I share this with you, I'm in no way saying everything here is 100% correct. I'm not saying that. But we're trying to have an analysis of you, a perspective on things prophetically. As we study, we might have to shift things a little bit. But generally, what you're going to hear today is very prophetic. "Nor will it ever be understood until the unrolling of the scroll."

So now, there are reasons why people believe we need to have a Sunday law. Okay, if you read some of the reasons: Number one, national morality and revival. So, they believe to save the country because of the national immorality that's in our state today, we need to reverse that and we need a revival.

Next, there is the family and social cohesion argument. This is what Project 2025 and also the new document about saving America and saving the family. That's what they're arguing. We need to save the family. Make them go to church. Right.

Next, environmental and climate concerns. That is also another reason. Again, the UN pushes for this. There are so many other institutions that are pushing for this. When these kids are following Greta Thunberg and they like throwing paints on the wall, they really believe, okay, climate change is such a major problem. And one of the things that's been proposed by Pope Francis, Dwini Stenure, the late Pope Francis, is that we need to have a national day of rest to save the climate. It's also written in his encyclical, Laudato Si'. We've talked about this before as well.

Economic and labor fairness. So, money to save workers. You're going to see the language about workers being saved. The unions are going to be involved in this. So, that's part of the reason that we need to give people a day of rest since they work so hard. Which day is that going to be? Sunday.

Crisis response, social, political, and global. So, as you see the crisis happening in the world, Sunday law calls are going to increase. Here is an example. This is Senator Sylvia Allen. You will see what I mean by the moral, you know, the immorality in our society and how Sunday laws force people to go to church on Sunday might save the nation. Here's the concept.

"Use knives or you can use whatever. It's the soul that is corrupt. And how we get back to a moral rebirth in this country, I don't know. Since we are slowly eroding religion at every opportunity that we have. Uh, probably we should be debating a bill requiring every American to attend a church of their choice on Sunday to see if we can get back to having a more..." There it is. So, morality, immorality is happening in the country. Mass shootings and everything like that. Kids are losing their minds. Part of that is true. But the solution is forced worship. I don't know about that.

So, here are the four stages of the National Sunday Law. Here's what you need to look out for.

Number one, stage number one, civil Sunday rest. It's going to be a soft enforcement. What does that say? Stop working on Sunday. You just heard the videos. You're hearing that echo is going to get louder. But right now, it's all about work. At least for now.

Stage number two, religious Sunday observance. What does that mean? Honor Sunday as a sacred day. You're going to hear that it's not just going to be work. Religious attendance on Sunday, respecting the day is going to be in that stage. Let's go.

Stage number three. This is when you get serious. Economic and legal persecution. You must worship on Sunday or suffer. We're not there yet, but that's coming soon.

Stage number four. There is what is known as the death decree in Jacob's time of trouble. What does that say? Kill all Sabbath keepers. You say that's not going to happen. Let's keep following.

Let's go to stage number one. Civil Sunday rest. This is a soft enforcement phase. You're hearing that echo right now. When you see them saying we need to have a closing day of rest, they're echoing stage number one. Right now, the religious element is not being talked about. There's going to be crisis situation events and other world stuff that's going to move this from a "I need you to go to work" to "I need you to stop working on Sunday and attend church on Sunday."

Look at this. "All stores will be closed and it will not directly affect God's people. You can still go to church on Sabbath. During that stage, we are still going to be Sabbath keepers." To go to church and no problem. All is well. Here is the thing. The image demanded worship from everybody, very general in nature. The devil wants the SDA to come to the front line. So, keep in mind, even though it says that at stage number one, things are going to change. We remember what happened on the plain of Dura when the three Hebrew boys did not go along. Because when stage number one happens, the world rests on Sunday, SDAs are going to come to the front lines. Slowly, you guys are different. Let's keep watching.

"The princes, then the princes, and the governors, and the captains, and the judges, and the treasurers, and the counselors, and the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up: they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up." So, it's like this is a stage. This image was set up, but it didn't require worship yet, you know. And then we go to verses 5 and 6. It's like there's another phase to that. "And at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up." So, you get the sense that they build an image so God's people are still safe. And then now they pass a law saying, "Listen, it's not enough for you to know the image exists, we need you to get on your knees." So, now, "Fall down and worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up." "Whosoever falleth not..." Look at this next stage. So, it's not that you are supposed to worship. No, if you don't worship, you're going to die. You're supposed to die. This is a death decree phase. It's all throughout Daniel chapter 3. Listen, "He says, 'Whosoever falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'"

Last day events. Look at this. "Last Day Events," page 139, paragraph 5. "The light given me by the Lord at the time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you seem to be approaching was that when the people were moved by a power from beneath to enforce Sunday observance, seven-day Adventists were to show their wisdom by refraining from ordinary work on that day, devoting it to missionary effort." What are we told to do? Don't go out there and try to be Mr. Match Your Man. If they force a Sunday law saying people need to rest on that day, so you rest. You're not receiving the mark of the beast because you're resting. You're not attending church. You're not violating the law, or you're not going to work. We are all told it is safe to still do that. Refrain from work and be wise at that moment. Here is what you need to understand. It is when you are told you cannot worship on Sabbath that's when things are going to get bad. And we're going to talk about that in a minute.

Now, here is the next quotation. "The light given me by the Lord at a time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you may seem..." Oh, by the way, I just read that. So, I copied this. So, refrain from work, and that's the first counsel. The second counsel is, devote time to missionary efforts. So, guess what? Bible studies, visiting our neighbors, giving them the word of God. This is your time to do that because things are going to change very soon. For now, Sunday law is all about work. It's all about saving the family. It's all about giving Americans a day of rest. Right now, it's still safe. We are told, "Next, Testimony for the Church, volume 9, page 232. Sunday can be used for carrying forward religious lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this day, open-air meetings and cottage meetings can be held. Yes, on Sunday, put up a tent, preach. House-to-house work can be done. Visit your neighbors. Give them Bible studies. Go to the nursing home. Go to the hospitals. Pray. This is a good time to do that. Those who can write can devote this day to writing their articles whenever it is possible. Let religious services be held on Sunday." Look at that. Yes, let religious services be held on Sunday. It doesn't mean you are worshiping on Sunday. You can do evangelistic outreach on Sunday because the minds of the people are resting at home. This is an opportunity to do evangelism. So, the door, you're going to have a captive audience. Make these meetings interesting, intensely interesting. Make it... this is good counsel. Sing genuine revival hymns. Speak with power and assurance of the Savior's love. So, what the devil meant for evil at that stage, God's people were going to take advantage of this and spread the gospel like wildfire. This is good news for so far. Get excited.

But next, look at this. "At another time when our brethren were threatened with persecutions and were questioned regarding what they should do, that I gave them some the same advice that I had given them in the question concerning the use of Sunday for games. I said, 'Employ Sunday in doing missionary work for God. Teachers, go to your students. Take them to their homes of their people, near and far. Teach them how to talk in a way to do good. Let the people know that you are interested in their soul salvation.'" The blessing of God rested upon the children, upon the students, as they diligently searched the scriptures in order to learn how to present the truth, the truths of the word, in such a way that these truths will be received in favor. So, you get the sense. Do evangelism, do your outreach, keep spreading and teaching the word of God from house to house. Let the teachers of our school devote Sunday to missionary effort. Let them take the students with them to hold meetings for those who know not the truth. Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. And on this day, house-to-house can be done. House-to-house work can be done. Open-air preaching again. We're talking about that. Um, I think we quoted that one.

All right, let's keep going. "Sing genuine revival hymns, speak with power and assurance of the Savior." Oh, here's the part we didn't read. "Speak on temperance, teach the health principles, and on true religious experience. You will thus learn much about how to work and will reach many hearts." So, is Pastor James saying something that's not biblically true?

But wait, here are two critics of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Okay, "Answering Adventism." And this man here is Mr. Douglas. He is an open Christian nationalist. As a matter of fact, he is one of the figureheads of that movement. Now, the question was asked, "Oh, is Christian nationalists going to ban SDAs? You know, SDAs are pushing propaganda. Are they going to ban SDAs from attending church on Sunday or persecute them?" He's asking the question to shame SDAs. But the answer he gave is even more interesting. Listen.

"Now, Ellen White, the SDA church's prophetess, she had this to say about the future, which is why SDAs are anticipating these things, and this is only a fraction of her claims. But notice what she says: 'Laws enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath will bring about a national apostasy from the principles of republicanism upon which the government has been founded. The religion of the papacy will be accepted by the rulers, and the law of God will be made void.' Close quote. And this will eventually lead to this: 'The whole world is to be stirred with enmity against Seventh-day Adventists because they will not yield homage to the papacy by honoring Sunday, the institution of this anti-Christian power.' Close quote. This National Sunday Law will start in America and eventually become global. And they believe that when this happens, Seventh-day Adventists are going to have to take a stand for the seventh-day Sabbath and be prepared to die for such."

"So, my question for you, are Christian nationalists like yourself seeking to pass a national Sunday law that will eventually lead to persecution coming for those who want to observe Saturday as the Sabbath?"

"Uh, no. I've never heard anybody proposing that or talking about it or wishing that they could. I do believe that the Sabbath is going to be part of a reformation of our morals. But I don't believe the fourth commandment has been retired in any way. So, if there is a national reformation and revival, I believe that that will result in a national honoring of the Lord's Day. I do believe that that's going to happen, but I'm a federalist. I don't think the mechanism for it ought to be the federal government. I believe that..." [clears throat] "...um, Sabbath laws or what they used to be called blue laws, should be a municipal, local, county sort of thing, not national at all. Okay. And, uh, and I also believe that from the founding of our country down to the time when I was a young man, I was in the Navy when Virginia jettisoned her blue laws, her Sunday laws. Um, and so for virtually the entire history of the United States, we had legal protection for the Lord's Day. Um, and it didn't lead to this persecution or genocide of Seventh-day Adventists. I have no problem, no problems affirming that the rights of the liberty of conscience of Seventh-day Adventists ought to be respected and honored. They, they, this is the extent of the persecution that I'd be willing to deploy against a Seventh-day Adventist. He would not be able to go into a shop and buy a shovel. That's how that's the extent of the pers." [laughter]

"Right. Right." "That would be the extent of the persecution."

"Well, it's funny because they love to point to the blue laws. They love to point to 1888 and these sorts of times in American history to try..." And I when I saw this, I saw this laughing. I'm like, "Wait a minute. Isn't he confirming everything we just said?" He is telling you the first stage of the Sunday law is what I'm going to push. He doesn't believe he wants to persecute anybody. Well, he's just a man. He's just one piece in a much larger puzzle. So, wait a minute. Look what he said. "Reformation of our morals will require the observance of the Sabbath." And when they mean Sabbath, they mean Sunday. Didn't I just tell you to get back to morality, they're going to push Sunday? He just confirmed it. And the second thing is, he believes Sabbath blue laws is constitutional and there was no persecution. By the way, that's a lie. There's an article you can read on Adventist Review. Uh, I didn't put this in my slide here, and you can read the article "Seventh-day Adventists in Chang Gang." Um, this happened in 1882. You can read about this, and I did a whole video explaining what this is. Yes, there were people who were persecuted um in 1882 when under these Sabbath laws. Thank God intervened. It didn't go to the fourth stage. But on stage number one, people were already getting locked up. Remember, prophecy is progressive. So, what he is saying, Sabbath cannot, you cannot buy and sell. You cannot go and buy a shovel. Didn't the Bible say that? So, and again, uh, he meant to criticize the SDA church, but he ended up confirming exactly what we've been saying. So, now I was like, "Oh, boy. Thank you for everything. Thank you for letting me know what we believe is the truth."

Now, stage number two, religious Sunday observance. Honor Sunday as a sacred day. Look at this. Church attendance will become mandatory. Secondly, people will be urged to return to God and attend church on Sunday in order to receive his favor. By the way, that's paganism in nature. But we're going to keep moving. Legal actions and lawsuits will begin to take place. This issue will become a widespread topic of discussion everywhere. There will be betrayal among fellow brethren. This is when Matthew 18 comes into place. When your own children betray you and stuff like that to the government, this is where it begins to happen. But now, even though it is required, there's no death decree yet. No buying and selling on Sunday is there, but there's no major death decree yet, but it is still required.

Now, look at this. Lawsuits and punishments will take place. "GC 608," paragraph 2, is where I get all these thoughts from. "As the time approaches, a large class who profess faith in the third angel's message and have not been sanctified through obedience to the faith abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition." These are SDAs. That's not the world. The world does not, the rest of the Christian world, they don't believe in the three angels' messages. So, the people who believe in the three angels' messages, particularly the third angel's message, that's righteousness by faith message. Okay? It says some of us will abandon the faith. And look what they're going to do. "By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light. Mercy." When the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy and popular side. Wow.

Next. "Men of talents and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls." By the way, that young man that was in the video, he was once a Seventh-day Adventist. He left the SDA church. Something happened to him. I'm not going to get into all that story. And now he's become an open critic of that. Listen, more of them are coming. That's what we are told. "They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them by false reports, insinuations to stir up the rulers against them."

Look at this. "As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keeping people, commandment keepers." Here is a good counsel to share during that time. I will say, as early as you begin, and I think Bill is going to love this one. "As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who will stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable position." Remember now, no buying and selling. You're not allowed to worship on your Sabbath day. But keep going. "For their own sake, here is the counsel. They should, while they have the opportunity, have opportunity become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention, and cure. Those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere." Wow. Guys, listen. We need to take this counsel seriously. And my wife and I, we're trying to apply this this year. We're getting trained in gospel medical missionary because we realize a time is going to come. The only work that's going to be allowed to be done is gospel medical missionary work. You think YouTube is going to be friendly to us all over? We think, you think the Zoom app that we have access to is always going to be open? Friends, that's not true. That's not true. When it says no buying and selling, that means at every level.

Now, we are told there will be suffering ones, plenty of them, who will need help, not only among those of our own faith, but largely among those who know not the faith. So, now, what is the counsel? Listen, you're going to have a vast field of labor because disease and plagues are going to be upon the people. So, these diseases or plagues are going to open the door for you to do evangelistic outreach as you minister to their medical needs. So, you need to be very much engaged in some form of gospel medical missionary work training now because that's going to prepare you for what's coming then. Even when they say we cannot buy or sell, if you have those skills, you're going to be able to survive during that moment. Okay. We are told, "Soon there will be no work." And I thought about that, like, what do you mean no work? I can't preach. I can't put tents. I can't go worship. No, no, no, no, no. There will be no work done in ministerial lines, but medical missionary work. Wow. The entire system is going to be shut down. The only thing that will be allowed to be functioned in favor of God's people during those times is medical missionary work. The health message is going to open the door for missionary work. And part of the way the message is going to be finished is through the health message. And I know that's something we don't think about, but we need to start thinking about it and talk about it because the Lord is going to use this in a powerful way in these end times.

Now, let's go on. Now, economic and legal persecution, stage number three. This is when the entire thing now has teeth. You must worship on Sunday or suffer. Now, here's what he says. SDA will stand out like Daniel in Daniel chapter 3 and Daniel chapter 6. We can receive the seal of God or the mark of the beast at this stage. Now, remember, the first two stages, you don't receive the mark of the beast yet. A person who worships on Sunday, it is in this stage. You're going to see why Satan will impersonate Christ at this stage. And we talked about this before. The little time of trouble, fine, persecution takes place around this phase.

Let's read "GC 607," paragraph 1. "There will be threatened with fines, imprisonment, and some will offer positions of influence and other rewards of advantages as inducement to renounce their faith." They're going to say, "Listen, I'm going to give you a job, sis. Listen, if you do this thing, I'm going to give you the promotion you've been waiting for." Right? Look what it says next. "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 will know nothing of this truth. Wow.

So, during this time, you're going to be induced. You're going to be tried. You're going to be bribed. Some of us are not going to fall for it. We're going to say, "Where, where in the Bible did you get this? Show me from the word of God." They don't have an answer for you. And even in courts, our testimonies are going to convert the entire jury. In some cases, the judges will be converted. So, this is a good time for the people of God. Not only first, we've got to know what you believe now so that if this were to happen to you later on, you are ready.

Here is the thing. "As the defenders of the truth refuse to honor Sunday, some of them will be thrust into prison." Wow. "Some will be exiled. Some will be treated as slaves to human wisdom." All this now seems impossible. And that's the thing right now. You look at this. You say, "That's, that's, come on, James. You're tripping. Come on, Pastor James, you've lost your mind. You've done reading those Ellen White C. You've lost it." No, friends. Listen. Listen. All you have to do is just go back to COVID and watch how the government turned around very quickly against its own people. And then you tell me this cannot happen again. "Look to human wisdom." All this now seems impossible. But as the restraining spirit of God, now this is crucial to the prophecy. The spirit of God that is restraining some of these events is going to be withdrawn from men. There will be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, and there will be strange developments. The hearts can be very cruel when God's fear and love are removed. Because right now, you're looking at things because the Holy Ghost is restraining powers of the earth. And that's why the world is shocked when they see the Epstein stuff. They're like, "I can't believe these people are doing." They've been doing this for a long time. You just didn't know about it. And these are people I believe the Holy Ghost has departed from. I believe, and this is what they show you, the cruelty and the wickedness that Satan will do when men are under his control. So, imagine in a world stage, in your political stage, even in your religious faith, the spirit of God is removed. What will religious people do? Didn't they say to Jesus, "Crucify him"?

Okay, let's keep going. We are told, "December 20th, Review and Herald." We are told, "Those who apostatize in a time of trial will bear false witness and betray their brethren to secure their own safety. They will tell where the brethren are concealed." "She's hiding over there. She's what?" Look at putting the wolves on their track. "Christ has warned us of this that we may not be surprised at the cruel, unnatural course pursued by friends and relatives." Wow. "Little children, it is the last time. John writes, 'As you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they were that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.'" Friends, there are some people, and I'm not going to name names. We don't need to do that. We don't know the hearts. Only God knows the wheat and the tears. It's not our business to point fingers at anybody. But there are some people in church, we're going to betray you one day. And I hope it's not any one of our churches. Praise the Lord. Yes. I hope it's not any one of us because we want to love each other so much. And let me tell you something. If you don't love each other now, you're going to have a difficult time to do it then. Because when there's fear, when there's no buying and selling, when there's hunger, you'll be surprised what people do.

Okay, the mark of the beast. During that time, this is when people can receive the mark of the beast. So, when people go along with Sunday laws at this phase, there is no turning back because why? A message is going to go forward at the same time. So, while this is happening, God is sounding the alarm. The third angel's message is going forward of Revelation chapter 18. Revelation chapter 14 is also happening, and they're following the angel flying, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." So, he's like, this angel is going to give power to the message of the gospel, telling the world, "This is not from God." 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, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

So, there is a message sent during that time which is called the three angels' messages. But the third angel's message is going to sound louder because God is going to call people back to true worship. You see, it's either you're going to worship the beast or you're going to worship the Creator and honor His Sabbath. Worship the beast and keep Sunday. Worship the Creator and honor His seven-day Sabbath. That's going to be made clear to the world. And God is going to give that message power.

Now, during that time, Satan is going to do something very tricky. We talked about this before. He's going to impersonate Christ. Yes. And again, Doug Batchelor has an entire movie about this. "As the crowning act in a great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has longed to look to the Savior's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come in different parts of the earth. Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in Revelation chapter 1, verses 13-15. In gentle, compassionate tone, he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered. He heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assuming character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed." You see, now this is very interesting. When Satan comes with miracles, okay, this is part of the deception. Miracles. He's going to prophesy, "A Sabbath has been changed from Saturday to Sunday." The world is going to follow suit. We are told.

Now, what else does he do? "He commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed, which is Sunday, and declare that those who persist in keeping the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to the angels sent with light to them with light and truth. This is the strong and almost overmastering delusion." Wow. "Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitude from the least to the greatest give heed to the sorcery, saying, 'This is the great power of God.'" You see how deceived people are going to be.

Now, what does that look like? Doug Batchelor's movie "Armageddon" explains some of this. Listen. "As global calamities intensify, church leaders believe that no time can be lost in compelling the world to follow the doctrines endorsed by this counterfeit Messiah."

[Music]

"The enlightened one is telling us these disasters will continue until everyone in the world puts aside their divisive religious notions and come together. And for the good of everyone, if they don't do it willingly, there needs to be consequences. We need to stop messing around and start attacking these lawbreakers. The whole world is suffering because of their stubbornness." Not everyone is taken in. A few realize that the Bible has warned about this amazing deception. And they know the goal of this false Messiah is to lead people away from the commandments of God. Just slow down and listen to what you're saying. I think we've got to be extremely careful if we're talking about compromising God's word for the sake of unity.

Here is [Music] the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. So, it's interesting because the Revelation 14:12 verse comes right after those events, which implies the message has gone forward and God is going to point the people to one group who are living the life that He always wanted them to live, and He says, "Here is the patience of the saints. You know, you guys are deceived by the beast and his image and his false system. But here is a people. You need to join them. Become part of the remnant movement. Here is a people."

Now, um, here is the next thing in Revelation 20:4. "And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands." So, what you get here, beheading in the future during the time of the beast system, the image of the beast, and the mark of the beast upon the foreheads. There's never been a time in history when people could receive the mark of the beast. So, that tells me then this is still future. And God is looking at this in the great white throne judgment, and God is saying, "Hey, listen. These people suffered under the beast power. They were beheaded." That's called guillotine, somebody. You know what? "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." So, many will be imprisoned. Many will flee for their lives from cities and towns. Many will be martyred for Christ's sake in standing in defense of truth. So, we have so many categories here. Prison, fleeing from city to cities. So, that means if you have to go from one city to the next, that means you're going to be followed. Next, many will be martyred, put to death because of that as well. That's what prophecy tells us. "Many will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation to divine law. Those who obey God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed, and they will be betrayed by both parents and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends, even unto death." Wow.

So, should there be a return to persecution, there will be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show true heroism. Heroism. Thank the Lord for this statement. You know, sometimes you look at some of this stuff, you're like, "Man, Lord, could I endure?" Here is the thing, friends. The grace you need for those times will be given you. As a matter of fact, God is giving you grace now to endure your daily trials. Well, the same God who's keeping you now will keep you then if you were to live to see those days. We are all told, "The Desire of Ages," page 351, paragraph 5. "The disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of martyrs until such grace was needed." Thank you, Lord. That's why the Hebrew boys could walk through the fiery furnace, and the fourth man joined them. They had no doubt the Lord could keep them. If the Lord chose not to keep them, they will still worship. They will still stand firm and against the image of Nebuchadnezzar. We are all told, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.'"

One second here. My wife is calling. One second. Okay. So, the decision is, we're not going to bow. We're not going to bow. We're going to be true to the Lord. All right. Let's, let's bring this to stage number four.

So, this is the death decree phase. The Jacob time of trouble phase. Kill all Sabbath keepers. This is the death decree. Um, this is the stage now when things are going to get seriously rough. Now, the third stage was the worst stage, but this stage is, um, it's not good either. But thank the Lord because this stage is what leads to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The death decree phase will mark a time when the people of God are no longer tolerant and no longer tolerated. They will be blamed for the plagues that have fallen upon the world.

Now, I didn't say this during stage number four. When the message goes forward, Satan impersonates Christ, and the message of the loud, the third angel's message is called the loud cry of the third angel's message. When that goes forward, the gospel goes internationally. There's going to be plagues falling. So, the seven last plagues of Revelation chapter, I think it's chapter 16 or chapter 15, they begin to fall upon the earth, and they're going to curse God and curse His people during the time, and they're going to make up their mind and say, "We need to end the life of God's people because they are the reasons why God is punishing us because you, this small group, refuse to bow."

Here is the point. "God's faithful will pass through the experience of Jacob's time of trouble." That's going to be another study. I think we did an entire study on this in the book of Jeremiah. We talk about Jacob's time of trouble. What does that look like? But here is the thing. "I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages and associating together in companies and living in the midst in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst." Wow. "Your bread and your water shall be sure." This is the phase when this is being fulfilled.

"During the night, during the night, a very impressive scene passed before me. There seemed to be great confusion and conflicts of armies. A messenger from the Lord stood before me and said, 'Call your household. I will lead you. Follow me.' And he led me down into a dark passage through a forest and then through the cliffs of the mountain and said, 'Here you are.' There were others who have been led to this retreat. The heavenly messenger says, 'The time of trouble has come as a thief in the night.' And the Lord warned you it will come in a time of trouble just before the coming of Christ. The righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels." Praise the Lord. I'm so glad for this. These militaries. I'm telling you, I was looking at a video. They have drones and weapons that can see from the sky just about every single one of us. They can pierce through houses. They have night vision and stuff like that. I'm like, "Listen, if the Lord doesn't protect His people during this time, we have no hope."

"Yeah, James, we're going to need supernatural protection and intervention." [Snorts] "It's going to take supernatural intervention. There's no other way around it. Angels." We are told, "There will be no security for the transgressors of God's law because why? The plagues are falling. Okay, the plagues are falling. Sores and the sun is burning their skin and so on. Angels cannot then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts."

"Mercy. So, Early Writings, page 36, paragraph 2. I saw the four the four the four angels that will hold the four winds. This is Revelation chapter 7, by the way, until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary. Then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enrage the wicked against the righteous. They thought that who they thought that we had brought the judgment of God upon them, and that if they rid the earth of us, the plagues will then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the wicked, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble." So, while the wicked are looking to destroy the righteous because of the plagues, we are looking at ourselves and saying, "Lord, am I in a good relationship with Jesus Christ? Am I saved?" That's going to be the concern at the time for many of God's people is making sure we are right with God. We're not even worrying about our death and security at this point because the Lord is taking care of that. This is us making sure I'm in a right relationship with Jesus.

We are told now, "Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth uniting to war against the commandments of God will decree that will decree that all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, shall conform to the customs of the church by observing the false Sabbath. By the observance of the false Sabbath, all who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties and will be finally declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator's rest demands obedience and, um, and treatment, I'm sorry, and threatens wrath against all who transgress His precepts." So, while they are disobeying God, the wrath of God is upon them.

"Now, when the protection of human law shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be in different lands a simultaneous movement for the destruction, for their destruction." Now, look at that. In different lands. It happens first in the United States, but the rest of the world will follow suit. "As the time appointed in a decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect." Wow. "It will be determined to strike in one night." I told my son, this is called "the purge." "In one night, we're going to purge them all out of the earth." But look at what the Bible says. "In one night, a decisive blow which will utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. The people of God, some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forest and of the mountains, still plead for divine protection, while in every quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of angels, are preparing for the work of death." Wow. "It is now, in the hour of uttermost extremity, that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His people." Hallelujah. "Say the Lord, 'You shall have a song as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept: and gladness of heart, as when one goeth into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty one of Israel. The Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.'"

Friends, Christ is coming at this time. We are told, "The Protestant world may today see in a little company keeping the Sabbath a 'mote in the gate.' His character and conduct express reverence for the law of God, or a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling upon the Sabbath upon His Sabbath. The unwelcome intruder must by some means be put out of the way." Prophets and Kings. "The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in a little company keeping the Sabbath commandment a 'mote in the gate.' The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off fear of the Lord and are trampling upon His Sabbath."

So, now, what have we learned today? Four stages: the civil Sunday rest, religious Sunday observance, economic and legal persecution, death and decree. Why has God revealed these things to us? Here are some reasons.

Number one, [clears throat] "Now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it is come to pass, you might believe." Simple. He wants to increase our faith in Him. So, we recognize His voice and authority. We have to be able to discern God's voice from everybody else. And you're going to hear a whole lot of voices in this end time.

Next, to build trust before the crisis is here. He's referring, he's sharing these things to you so that we don't get caught by surprise. You'll be like, "Yep, we had a study on this. Yep, we remember these things. Yep, we read them from the counsels. We read them from the word of God. We're not surprised by what you guys are doing."

To warn, not to scare. The goal is not about scaring people. It's about warning people to wake people up spiritually. When you know these things are coming, you say, "Lord Jesus, where am I? Well, Lord Jesus, what else do you want me to do? Lord Jesus, how much more shall I surrender to you?" Like, these should be the thoughts and concerns we have now.

To guide decisions and character. Next, to point to Christ as the center of our hope. A time is coming, friends, we're going to have to have our confidence only in Jesus. And the world is realizing that now, a little bit at a time. They're like, "Listen, politicians are corrupt. DOJ's are corrupt. CIA are corrupt. You had all these files and documents in your hands and you knew who these men were and what they have done. You had this evidence in your hands and you did not commit a single arrest." And people look at that and say, "Why do we vote? There's no such thing as Republican or Democrat. This is a uniparty. You guys are just serving the rich." It's like, "Oh, I could have told you that from reading the Bible." Don't put your trust in them. You see, we need to trust the Lord. We might as well start doing it now because a time is coming. We're going to have no other shelter but Jesus.

Next. So, we might be ready for His return. Let us pray.

Father, we are so grateful. We are so thankful for Your love, for Your grace, and Your mercy. Thank You for the truth. Thank You for the counsels. Thank You for what You've shared with us today. Help us to get ready. Help us to stay ready as we help somebody else to be ready. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen.