THIRD QUARTER 2021
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #13
SEPTEMBER 25, 2021
“THE ULTIMATE REST”

 

“The Ultimate Rest.” The adjective “ultimate” means something that happens at the end of a process, something final. In this case it is rest. We begin our lesson on the page of the Sabbath afternoon perusal in which we read these two sentences: “This week, we look at how we can rest in Jesus in the face of global unrest and our own unknown future, at least in the short term. In the long term, things look very promising, indeed!”

From the beginning of this world there has been a series of events leading up to the second coming of Christ when the ultimate rest becomes eternal rest for the people of God. We are living in the time just preceding the final event. Today we have come face to face with global unrest not unlike that which preceded the world-wide flood and which Jesus used to illustrate the closing events of earth’s history (Luke 17:26).

We are approaching a similar condition of global behavior of fear, hatred and wickedness such as when God saw “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Just think of it – the thoughts of man were evil all day long, day after day. With the cut back of police funding there is an increase of violence in many cities across America. There was an exception to the ongoing violence, however, in the days prior to the flood. That exception was Noah. The meaning of the word “Noah” is “rest.” Those who knew him then, recognized his calmness. This was because he rested in God alone because of grace alone which he obtained from God. (Genesis 6:8). As a consequence of God’s grace, he was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Not only did he preach righteousness, he lived what he preached. Because he believed God, he found peace and rest and assurance as it is written in Isaiah 32:17 – “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”

Noah was motivated by a “godly fear,” not the fear of the world. His was a reverent regard for God. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

Jesus said, “as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26). The condition of mankind today is that of anxiety, turmoil and terror. We are approaching the “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” (Daniel 12:1). Every person on earth will experience this “time of trouble.” No one will escape it. Just before that terrible time, probation closes and Jesus will stand up as “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords.” (The term “stand” in Daniel 11:2 and 3, KJV, refers to the men who became kings in Persia and later in Greece). Jesus stands and rules in behalf of His people on earth. He watches over them, finally delivering them for eternity and His ultimate rest.

There will be a general agreement, supported by a majority of the people of the world, that a mandated death decree must be enacted on God’s remnant minority. Before the mandate goes into effect, legally, some of the majority will attempt to carry out the dictated death decree. This action will be based on unholy fear. Fear is one of the greatest motivating features that controls those who are not under the power of God’s love. John wrote: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

Two illustrations of the controlling emotion of fear that works on Christians, as well as the people of the world follow: The first illustration is that of 9/11 when the twin towers of New York came down, followed by the attack on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., by terrorist tactics. Fear motivated increased church attendance by many Americans following the events of that day. But it was short lived. The second illustration is the ongoing and relentless global pandemic panic created by the Covid-19 virus. This has lasted for well over a year. Fear can be seen in the eyes of many who have no knowledge of how to get out of the situation we are in. Many people are afraid of, and angry at, politicians, news agencies and government scientists who change their opinions which are sometimes contradictory. People are fearful because of news about those dying who refuse the vaccine and they are terrified by news of too many who die from the vaccine itself.

In this world-wide crisis of fear and death, there were many heroic doctors, nurses and other health care personnel, as first responders, went immediately into action, attempting to save the lives of the afflicted. Several had no natural immunity to the Covid virus and were thus unprotected from Covid and died helping fellow humans. Some continued on with their work, knowing they would probably die. And did.

Early on, there were other health professionals, gripped by fear and utter terror, resigned their positions, at times with none to take their places. But we must not blame them. What might we do under similar circumstances? Are we willing to lay done our lives for others? Must we? This brings to mind two of the Reformers – Luther and Zwingli – who both faced a similar situation when Bubonic Plague came to their cities.

In August 1519, Zurich, was struck by an outbreak of the plague during which three in ten persons died. All of those who could afford it left the city. Zwingli (age 35) was on vacation when the Black Death broke out in Zurich. Although he was weak from exhausting work, he rushed back to his city to minister to victims of the plague. Shortly after returning to Zurich, he came down with the disease and nearly died.

Luther wrote that it was not wrong to run from the plague. He, however, refused to flee. He remained at his post ministering to his people, but unlike Zwingli he did not come down with the disease.

If today’s globalized fear of Covid-19 is any indication of what deeper fears will produce in even greater panic in those who refuse to trust God and His word, we can somewhat understand what is to come. There will be a time of abject fear. God’s people will be targeted as trouble makers who supposedly cause the increased problems that come to the world. When lessor persuasions in today’s climate of fear fail, such as bribes, lottery tickets, then stiffer means will be mandated. But God’s people will refuse to conform to the wishes of the majority in things pertaining to God. The Remnant will not be coerced by threats, prison sentence, slavery or death. They will maintain their God-given right to freedom of conscience. Religious freedom can and will be taken from people, but liberty of conscience cannot be removed. Liberty of conscience can be given up, but it cannot be taken from anyone without consent.

The good news is that during the time of Jacob’s trouble Christ will send heaven’s angel army to protect His Remnant minority on earth. Consider the following promises:

“None can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul. Some are assailed in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them break and fall powerless as a straw. Others are defended by angels in the form of men of war.” GC 631.

 

“Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ's patience.” GC 630.

 

The majority will fail to understand their own peril. Their focus will be to destroy the minority, not realizing that their own existence depends on the Remnant’s continued existence.

The people issues of Daniel 11and12 and of Revelation chapters 13 and 14 are the same. This leads me to Friday’s comments under the heading “Discussion Questions” the third question which reads:

“In class, go over Revelation 14:9–11 and the question about those who worship the beast and his image not having rest. What might that mean?”

This is the second time mentioned in the lesson about no rest for those “who worship the beast and his image.” This refers to verse 11 specifically as brought out in Tuesday’s lesson also: “Revelation 14:11. What does it say about the lack of rest for those who worship the beast and his image? The fact that this is brought out twice must be important to the authors or to the editor. Perhaps for us also. So, let’s consider briefly what is written. Two things stand out regarding God’s wrath. This is observed by John’s use of the verb tenses in verses 10 and 11. John used future tenses for future wrath and present tenses for present wrath. In verse 10, those who worship the beast or receive his “mark shall drink (future tense) of the wine of the wrath of God … and … “shall be tormented” (future tense). But in verse 11 there are only present tenses used, which means the here and now in contrast to the future tenses of verse 10. The present tenses in verse 11 are visualized as follows:

 

The smoke of their torment ascends (present tense) forever and ever;

and they have (present) no rest day or night,

who worship (present) the beast and his image,

and whoever receives (present) the mark of his name.”

 

A parallel passage in John 3:26 considers both present and future tenses: “He who believes (present tense) in the Son has (present) everlasting life; and he who does not believe (present) the Son shall not see (future) life, but the wrath of God abides (present) on him.”

“The wrath of God” abides on the unbeliever whether he knows it or not. To come out from under wrath is through responding to Christ’s initiation of salvation. This is true both here and in Revelation 14:11-12 where we have the contrast in the reception of the mark of the beast and those who receive and “keep the faith of Jesus.”

How can Revelation 14:11 be in the present tense when it speaks of the worship of the beast, his image and mark all of which are future? Just as the seal of God’s name (character/righteousness) is a process written in the foreheads (minds) of the Remnant – “a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved” (1MR 249), so likewise, the beast’s name/mark (carnal mind) become fixed in the character of those who refuse to receive the mind of Christ as their only righteousness. These too will become unmovable.

The worldly mind is the mind of self. So, whether it worships the beast or if it worships self, it is carnal and is at enmity against God and His law (Romans 8:7). Revelation 14:11 is about the present experience of fallen mankind, absent of the grace of God working in them. This brings torment that lasts as long as they live or are converted to Christ. They are presently tormented by feelings of guilt with no rest day or night. This experience will be carried forward into the future when they are either forced or volunteer to worship the beast. They will retain their carnal minds and will not be aware of their true spiritual condition until it is too late, when probation closes at the standing up of Christ in Daniel 12:1.

The only remedy is to receive the mind of Jesus to discern spiritual things. NOW! Paul wrote of this in his letters – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The mind of Christ is spiritual, bringing present “life and peace” (Philippians 2:5; Romans 8:7). “The ultimate rest” comes through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone (Matthew 11:28-30) of which the Sabbath is the sign. The “rest” Jesus spoke of, as recorded by Matthew, is the same word used for Sabbath rest in the LXX, the Greek translation, of the Old Testament. The Sabbath rest truly points to the “ultimate rest” in Christ in the present and in the future to be experienced, eternally, when He returns for His people on earth.

In closing, E. J. Waggoner wrote about these two points – future and present – in his comments on 1 Corinthians 2:9, our memory text for this week’s lesson. He first acknowledged that this verse is about our future inheritance in heaven. However, his main emphasis is on the second point, based on the context which has to do with the here and now. This point is impossible for the unconverted person to understand because “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Waggoner wrote:

“By and by when Christ takes His own throne, we will take that too. In the first letter to the Corinthians it is written, "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9. This has to do with the inheritance, but don't put it all off for the future. Go back a couple of verses, – "We speak of the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." They might have known it, for read what follows in verse 10: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit."

It is something that God reveals to us now. We must not put it all off to the golden streets of the New Jerusalem, to the pearly gates, and the walls of jasper. And the only reason why we have not seen these things in the past is because the natural man cannot see them. It is a precious thought and I want you to grasp it, – that everything that Christ has we have now. Like David of old we can say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Psalms 16:6.” [Especially “The Ultimate Rest”]. E. J. Waggoner, General Conference Bulletin, March 20, 1891.

 

~Pastor Jerry Finneman