Revelation 14:6 – Revelation 15:6

Three Angel’s Messages and the Close of Mercy

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Do you understand this secular benefit that comes with obeying the 7^th commandment?

 

James 1:14   “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

 

James 1:15   Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 

James 1:16   Don’t be deceived [sinful desire can pop up at anytime, so be on your guard], my dear brothers.”

 

Now, let’s look at the spiritual process of the 7^th commandment.

 

One day, a born again man sees a naked woman and he momentarily entertains the idea of having an adulterous affair with her. Immediately, the Holy Spirit confronts this man with the light of truth:  This man doesn’t love his wife, as he should.

 

This man has to admit that he is not fulfilling the law! Yes, he may have been keepingthe law for many years by avoiding adultery, but he is not fulfilling the law if he wants to have an affair with another woman. The 7^th commandment reveals that a loving husband would not want to commit adultery.

 

A heart of pure love says, I cannot commit adultery, because the 7^th commandment reveals what a heart of pure love will do, this man is forced to admit that he doesn’t love his wife as he should.

 

He confesses to God that he loves himself more than he loves her and he cannot fulfill the intent of the 7^th commandment until he loves his wife, as God would have him love his wife. The point here is that even though he has been “keeping” the law for years, he has not been fulfilling it!

 

The Pharisees rigorously kept the law, but they could not fulfill it!

 

Paul wrote:

 

Romans 7:9   Once I was alive [self righteous in my own eyes but I was living] apart from [the intent] law; but when the commandment came [to my knowledge, saying Thou shalt not covert], sin sprang to life [because I had to admit that I was coveting] and I died[that is, my self-righteousness died from this knowledge].

 

Romans 7:10   I found the very commandment that was intended to bring life [by showing me what a heart of pure love will do] actually brought death [because the law condemned me and my self righteousness.]

 

A human being cannot love as God loves unless the Holy Spirit generates the love of God within him. Listen carefully: These things have been said about the two purposes of the Ten Commandments because the Ten Commandments show born-again people what pure love will do.

 

The object of the Great Tribulation is to become sealed. Yes, everyone will be tested to see (a) if they will obey the Ten Commandments. Jesus has carefully designed the Great Tribulation to produce both texts. He will text our knowledge and our love.

 

Both tests will be administered within the context of persecution. And all who pass both tests will be sealed. The carnal heart will be removed so that selfishness will never again have any part in God’s children.

 

From our point of view, the object during the Great Tribulation is to become sealed with the seal of the living God! Yes, observing the Sabbath will play a role, but obedience is only a part of the test!

 

1 Corinthian 13:1    If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

 

1 Corinthians 13:2   If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and If I have the faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

 

1 Corinthian 13:3   If I give all that I Possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

 

King David understood the spiritual purposes and process of the Ten Commandments.

 

Psalm 19:7   The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

 

Psalm 19:8   The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.         

 

Psalm 19:9   The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.”

 

Psalm 119:97   Oh, how I love your law! I mediate on it all day long.

 

Do you remember what happened to king David? One day he saw a naked woman taking a bath. Her name is easy to remember: Bath – Sheba. Don’t ask me how she got this name. After committing adultery with Bath Sheba, David killed he husband by having his general, Joab, put Uriah on the front line of battle. Later, the prophet Nathan confronted David with his adultery and murder.

 

When David saw the enormity of his sin as God saw it, he was deeply shaken by his failure. David knew that he had drifted away from having a heart of love. He had killed Uriah one of his best friends – all because of lust.

 

David earnestly prayed:

 

Psalm 51:10   “Create in men a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

 

Every Christian should know that in order to be saved from the penalty of sin, we have to be clothed with a righteousness that comes only from God. This righteousness does not come from obedience. Rather, Jesus grants this righteousness to us when we become willing to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and our neighbor as our self. True love for God and others fulfills the demands of the law.

 

The Holy Spirit wants us to look often into the perfect law of God to see how pure love for God and man is expressed. Yes, every born again person knows the problem with sin. We can’t fulfill the intentof the law all of the time.

 

Paul wrote:

 

Romans 7:15   I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

 

In other words, born again Christians have two natures that war against each other. Sometimes the carnal nature wins. This happened in king David’s case. Sometimes the spiritual nature wins. Born again Christians understand this warfare. This is why the seal of God is so wonderful.

 

God’s children will be tested to see if they really want their selfish carnal nature removed. When they pass the test, Jesus will fulfill their desire.

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