4. God’s Warning Against Worshipping the Beast

This testimony follows the two previous announcements, and is most plain, solemn, and decisive. It reminds us of another inspired testimony, “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha,” that is, accursed when the Lord cometh. How few think that we are rapidly hastening to this eternal crisis! Alas! man’s pride and self-will harry him on to judgment: and it must be so; for it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. This awful warning seems to be the last before Christ is actually revealed from heaven, and it is uttered with a loud voice, “If any man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his right 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 forever 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.” (verses 9-11.) Nothing can be plainer, or more awful-drinking God’s wrath, no rest, tormented day and night forever and ever. Let us try to think of its dread reality; for it might make us more in earnest with souls, and more decided in our testimony. Multitudes are acting on the principles of the beast and his image, little thinking that setting aside the authority of the Scriptures, and acting out a religiousness according to their own will and mind, they are thus helping on the work of the great deceiver, and rushing onward to the impending crisis.
The Lord pauses after this announcement, to notice again the patience of the saints, as He did also in the previous chapter—the remnant who are still passing through the fiery tribulation. Their zeal for the observance of God’s commandments, the law of Moses, and also their faith in the coming Messiah are not overlooked by Him.