By COGwriter
In the Hebrew scriptures, we learn about the Ten Commandments.
In the Greek scriptures, we learn about them as well as two beasts who are associated with lawlessness.
Jesus kept the Ten Commandments (John 15:10). The Apostle Paul kept the Ten Commandments (Acts 21:18-24; 28:17-19) as did the other apostles. There were not true Christians that did not strive to keep them.
Simon Magus and Marcion
The apostate and false apostle Simon Magus (Acts 8:13-23) is believed to have taught against the Ten Commandments (Against Heresies. Book III, Chapter 12, Verses 11-12; cf. Acts 8:23).
A major second century apostate known to have taught against the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath was Marcion of Pontus, who later went to Rome.
Marcion taught “his disciples to believe in some other god greater than the Creator” (Justin. First Apology, Chapter XXVI). Despite being a major apostate, he has been called ‘the first Protestant’ (Harnack A. Marcion and his impact on church history Volume 150 of Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literature).
It should be noted that there was no faith like the type of Protestantism currently seen in many parts of the world in the beginning of the Christian church (check out also the online book, Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). All early true Christians believed in keeping the Ten Commandments.
Those, like Marcion and Simon Magus, would be in categories that the Apostle Paul warned against:
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)
Christians were not lawless like Marcion and Simon Magus (2 Thessalonians 2:7), but obedient (Romans 16:19). Sadly, many claiming Christianity have followed the ways of Marcion and Simon Magus.
Marcion, himself, was condemned by Church of God Bishop/Pastor Polycarp of Smyrna as “the first-born of Satan” (Against Heresies. Book III, Chapter 3, Verse 4).
Church of God Leaders Taught the Ten Commandments
Polycarp of Smyrna was appointed bishop/pastor by the original apostles (Against Heresies. Book III, Chapter 3, Verse 4). He reportedly, “Polycarp related all things in harmony with the Scriptures” (Eusebius. The History of the Church. Book V, Chapter XX, verse 5).
Like the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:2; 18:4 see also 13:14,27,42,44), Polycarp’s custom was to preach the word of God on the Sabbath (Pionius. Life of Polycarp, Chapter 22). Unlike the Apostle Paul (Acts 21:39), Polycarp was a Gentile.
In Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, he repeatedly taught that Christians should keep the commandments (chapters 2,4,5, & 11). He also warned about following the “vanity of many and their false doctrines” (chapter 7), who were following false forms of Christianity.
This is consistent with what the Gentile Ignatius of Antioch wrote as he warned against false Christians that would not respond to the “law of Moses” (Ignatius. Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Chapters IV-V). Let it be understood that Ignatius did NOT replace the Sabbath with Sunday as people who have relied on mistranslations of one of his writings have claimed--the Greek basically teaches that Christians are to keep the Sabbath the way Jesus did, and not follow the way of the Pharisaical (Thiel B. Ignatius and the Sabbath. Sabbath Sentinel, May-June 2016; Thiel B. More on Ignatius and the Sabbath. The Sabbath Sentinel, Volume 70 (2): 15-17, 2017).
Bishop/Pastor Melito of Sardis was also a Gentile. In his Discourse Which Was in the Presence of Antoninus Caesar, he taught the commandments and mentioned that it was a sin to break them.
The Gentile Bishop/Pastor Theophilus of Antioch taught that the seventh-day Sabbath was still in effect (To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters XI, XII, XIX). Regarding the Ten Commandments, which he called “ten heads,” he also wrote:
Of this great and wonderful law, which tends to all righteousness, the ten heads are such as we have already rehearsed. (To Autolycus, Book III, Chapter IX)
Like Polycarp, Theophilus also denounced the lawless Marcion.
Thus, it should be clear that Church of God leaders, who spoke and wrote in Greek, did not believe that anything in the New Testament somehow did away with the Ten Commandments.
An anonymous 2nd century document that has been called "the oldest complete Christian sermon that has survived" (Holmes M. Apostolic Fathers, p. 102) repeatedly teaches that Christians must keep the commandments to be God’s people (2 Clement 3:4, 4:2-5, 6:7, 8:4, 17:3-7).
Other Leaders
Leaders outside the Church of God, that various Greco-Roman-Protestants consider to be saints, also taught the Ten Commandments.
Bishop Irenaeus of Lyon, taught “all … the words of the Decalogue … remain permanently with us” and that since Jesus came, the application of them were increased and extended and not abrogated (Against Heresies. Book IV, Chapter 16, Verse 4).
In the early third century, Clement of Alexandria listed most of the Ten Commandments (note, he left out two commandments-- 3. cursing and 9. false witness):
The first commandment of the Decalogue shows that there is one only Sovereign God...
The second word intimated that men ought not to take and confer the august power of God (which is the name, for this alone were many even yet capable of learning), and transfer His title to things created and vain, which human artificers have made...
And the fourth word is that which intimates that the world was created by God, and that He gave us the seventh day as a rest, on account of the trouble that there is in life. For God is incapable of weariness, and suffering, and want. But we who bear flesh need rest. The seventh day, therefore, is proclaimed a rest...
Now the fifth in order is the command on the honour of father and mother... Then follows the command about murder... This is followed by the command respecting adultery... And after this is the command respecting theft... And the tenth is the command respecting all lusts (Clement of Alexandria. Stromata, Book VI, Chapter 16).
It should be noted that Clement did not mention coveting your neighbor’s wife within the tenth nor did he give any indication that it could be a separate commandment from other lusts. Hence, Clement endorsed the same order of the Ten Commandments that the Continuing Church of God still endorses--this is different from the order of the Roman Church which came up with its current order in the fifth century mainly because of the influence of Augustine of Hippo (a man who abandoned the mother of his child and then hoped to marry a ten-year old girl, then did not do so).
The so-called Apostolic Constitutions, written in Syria around A.D. 250 states:
XXXVI. Have before thine eyes the fear of God, and always remember the ten commandments of God,--to love the one and only Lord God with all thy strength; to give no heed to idols, or any other beings, as being lifeless gods, or irrational beings or daemons. Consider the manifold workmanship of God, which received its beginning through Christ. Thou shalt observe the Sabbath, on account of Him who ceased from His work of creation, but ceased not from His work of providence: it is a rest for meditation of the law, not for idleness of the hands (Apostolic Constitutions - Didascalia Apostolorum Book II, Section IV).
Certainly, leaders who professed Christ taught the observance of the Ten Commandments during and after the time of Jesus and Paul.
Despite the views of certain Protestants and the Jehovah's Witnesses, these ancient people who knew Greek did not believe that the Ten Commandments were done away.
There Were Compromisers
Sadly, the influence of Simon Magus, Marcion, and other apostates made some more inclined to compromise on God’s law. Imperial edicts against the Jews also persuaded many to compromise on biblical holy days like the Sabbath.
While most think that crosses are a ‘Christian’ symbol, most people do not realize that the Greek terms translated as ‘cross’ and ‘crucify’ in the New Testament come from words meaning ‘stake’ (stauros) and ‘impale’ (sustauroo) and are NOT specific to crosses.
In the early second century, notice the following charge against Christians in the late second/early third century:
Why have they no altars, no temples, no acknowledged images? (Minucius. The Octavius of Minucius Felix)
No acknowledged images means that symbols like crosses were not considered to be Christian symbols then.
It was not until the advent of the pagan Emperor Constantine that crosses became a widespread symbol for those who claimed to be Christian. Crosses most definitely were NOT part of the original faith. It was because of compromise with Emperor Constantine, that other compromises with the Ten Commandments were adopted by many of the Greco-Romans who claimed Christ (note that many items in the catacombs that people have claimed were early crosses, were actually millennial symbols per the Roman Catholic scholar Bagatti’ Church of the Circumcision, pp. 298-299).
The warring religion of the sun-god Mithras and its customs and dress, as well as other pagan faiths, also affected many who claimed Christianity.
Those in the true Church of God refused compromises with the pagan religions and have continued to faithfully observe the Ten Commandments throughout the intervening centuries (cf. Dugger AN, Dodd CO. A History of True Religion, 3rd ed. Jerusalem, 1972. Church of God, 7th Day. 1990 reprint, pp. 252-253; 275-277) to this present time.
We in the Continuing Church of God are NOT Protestant as our spiritual ancestors formed the original New Testament Church of God in Acts 2 and we advocate keeping the Ten Commandments. More on the history of the true church can be found in the free online book, Continuing History of the Church of God, at www.ccog.org.
Arguments Against the Ten Commandments?
Although Martin Luther endorsed his idea of the Ten Commandments, various Protestant leaders (as well as the group calling itself the Jehovah's Witnesses have claimed that the Ten Commandments were done away, mainly based upon misunderstanding writings from the Apostle Paul.
The Apostle Peter warned, even in his day, that people were twisting the Apostle’s Paul’s writings:
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; (2 Peter 3:14-17)
Peter was warning that there are those that will be misled by people who claim to believe the Bible. He also warned that true Christians need to be blameless. Those that keep God’s commandments are ‘blameless’ (Philippians 3:6; Job 1:1, 23:12). Those who do not, are not.
The twisting of Paul’s writings occurs today as many claim that his writings somehow prove that the Ten Commandments are not in effect for Christians.
The basic arguments against the Ten Commandments are that they are burdensome (though the Bible teaches otherwise in 1 John 5:3), they were nailed to the cross, and that Christians are to love which fulfills all the commandments.
Yet, these people which rely on distorted understandings of scriptures that have been normally translated by others fail to consider that the apostles and their early followers did NOT believe that the Ten Commandments were done away. Hence, anyone who tries to tell you the opposite is ignoring the “faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The Bible teaches that “saints … are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
Nailed to the Cross?
Some teach that the Ten Commandments have been nailed to the cross:
The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross (Worley W. The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross. 1959).
The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews; and when Christ came and died they were all nailed to the cross (Taylor CL. The marked Bible. 1922, p. 53).
The keeping of the Sabbath as commanded on the tables of stone was nailed to the cross ... The Sabbath of the ten commandments had its mission (Orr C. The Gospel Day: Or, the Light of Christianity. 1904, pp. 336-337).
There is only one scripture that uses the “nailed it to the cross” expression (AV/NKJV/NJB):
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
It was the handwriting of requirements that were “nailed to the cross.” Which requirements were wiped out?
It appears that two ‘requirements’ were wiped out. One would be the requirements of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 9:1,6-10).
And why?
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins ... 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. (Hebrews 10:4,10)
The other (which is related) would be the death penalty, as “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23) or other specific ceremonial penalties associated with the Old Testament statutes (such as making a sin offering or washing).
Please understand that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" (cheirógrafon toís dógmasin) is a Greek legal expression that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--it does not signify the laws that are to be obeyed--only the penalty. It is only through the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"). But only the penalty, not the law!
Even Protestant commentators realize this. Notice what Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible states about Colossians 2:14:
Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has obtained for us a legal discharge from the hand-writing of ordinances, which was against us (v. 14), which may be understood,
1. Of that obligation to punishment in which consists the guilt of sin. The curse of the law is the hand-writing against us, like the hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall. Cursed is every one who continues not in every thing. This was a hand-writing which was against us, and contrary to us; for it threatened our eternal ruin. This was removed when he redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, Gal 3:13. (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, 1991)
Some will argue that you still cannot keep the Ten Commandments (for “all have sinned”), even if they are all mentioned as being in effect after the crucifixion. Does this mean one should not try?
Furthermore, let's look at another translation:
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14, NASB)
The handwriting of requirements (often also called the hand-writing of ordinances) or certificate of debt was wiped away and nailed to the cross.
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. (Hebrews 10:16).
God’s laws should be a way of life written on our hearts.
If Christians were not to keep the Ten Commandments, the Apostle Paul would not, for example, have been inspired to write the following:
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Christians are to keep the Ten Commandments and not accept someone as a real Christian who does not.
Colossians 2:16-17
While we are going to get to the prophesied two beasts, there are two other "beasts" if you will that have been affecting people with the Ten Commandments.
One is to accept tradition over what the commandments teach. Jesus warned about that:
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" — 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" (Matthew 15:1-9)
And the other "beast" is related to false teachers who have mistranslated the Bible.
Possibly, the most common portion of the Bible that is often cited as “proof” that the Sabbath and the biblical Holy Days are done away is Colossians 2:16-17. So, let's examine one slight mistranslation of it:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17, KJV).
The above translation is close, however, it added a word “is” (which is why the KJV translators put is in italics) that is not in the original Greek.
A truly literal translation would leave it out as it is not in there. Notice the Strong's Concordance numbers and related words for verse 17:
3739. 2076 ...4639... 3588 3195.......3588 ... 1161 4983 9999 3588 5547
Which are a shadow of things to come; the but ..body ........... of.. Christ.
It should be noted that 9999 means that there was no word in the biblical text—Greek word for “is” is not in this scripture.
Consider that these same three Strong's words (#4983, 3588, & 5547) are used four other times in the New Testament and in those times the KJV translates them as "body of Christ" (Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12)--as does the NKJV—so should have the KJV.
Therefore, if those translators were simply consistent with themselves, they would have translated Colossians 2:16-17 to state (and included parentheses or commas):
16 Therefore let no man judge YOU in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath 17 (for those things are a shadow of the things to come), but the body of Christ.
Or in other words, do not let those outside the ‘body of Christ’ (the church, Colossians 1:18) judge you regarding Holy Days, but only the true Church of God itself. Colossians 2:16-17 is not saying that the Sabbath and Holy Days are done away (more on the Holy Days can be found in the online booklet, Should You Keep God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?).
It is sad that modern translators of the Greek have often ignored what the expression really meant. Christians who lived in the first and second centuries and understood koine Greek did NOT believe that the Sabbath was done away!
It is poor exegesis (biblical interpretation) to rely on a mistranslation to claim that the Sabbath and holy days are done away with.
Galatians 4:8-10
The Bible tells us that the King of the North Beast "shall intend to change times and law" (Daniel 7:25).
While he will take such actions, mistranslators have already helped set the stage.
For example, another objection to keeping the Sabbath is Galatians 4:8-10. Some Protestants tend to use this to say that no biblical dates are to be observed. So let's look at what those scriptures actually teach:
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
There are several problems with the anti-Holy Day argument here.
One is that the Galatians were Gentiles (although there were apparently some Jews addressed in later verses) and were NOT keeping the biblical Holy Days or Sabbath prior to conversion.
Plus, there is no way that the Bible would call biblical requirements as "beggarly elements." Paul was clearly warning against pagan observances as the Galatians had "served those which by nature were not gods."
Another is that Roman Catholics/Protestants/Eastern Orthodox should consider that they often do observe various days and years (Sunday, Easter, Christmas, New Year’s), so they should not observe anything if they feel that no religious days are to be observed.
Galatians 4:8-10 is not doing away with the biblical Holy Days, but instead is a warning against clinging to non-biblical observances.
More Verses
There are other verses some wrongly point to as ‘proof’ that Christians do not need to keep the Ten Commandments that we will look at.
Notice the following:
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:4-9)
Someone referring to that wrote:
Reference is made here to a code that was “engraved in letters in stones” and it is said that “the sons of Israel could not gaze intently at the face of Moses” on the occasion when it was delivered to them. What is this describing? Exodus 34:1 shows that it is the giving of the Ten Commandments; these were the commandments engraved on stone. Obviously these are included in what the scripture here says “was to be done away with.”
Two points: First, there was a change from the Levitical ministry and its animal sacrifices. Second, the ministry of death included the written death penalty, which was NOT listed on the tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. The administration of death was inscribed on large stones after crossing the Jordan (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). As far as engraving or inscribing the laws, commandments, statutes, and judgments goes (Deuteronomy 26:16-18), this was basically done on large stones that had a type of white plaster on them (cf. Deuteronomy 27:2, KJV).
In the Church of God, we do not administer the death penalty to people nor sacrifice animals for sin. Christians are supposed to forgive men of their trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). We are not to take revenge (Romans 12:19), but are to rely on God to deal with those who violate His laws or harm us (Romans 12:18-21).
Notice the following from the Bible and how someone improperly interprets this:
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. (Romans 7:6-12)
Here, immediately after writing that Jewish Christians had been “discharged from the Law,” what example from the Law does Paul cite? The Tenth Commandment, thus showing that it was included in the Law from which they had been discharged.
No Christian really feels that Paul was teaching that covetousness was fine for Christians. Paul did not write that Jewish Christians were "discharged from the law." Paul was saying that Christians are to better serve the law (in the spirit, like Jesus taught with the beatitudes in Matthew 5-6), and that the law defined sins, like covetousness, that he would not naturally have considered to be sin.
Here is a supposed anti-Sabbath verse:
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)
But the above is a reference to personally-chosen fasting days (Romans 14:6) and is not related to the Sabbath—which God said was to be kept.
Notice also:
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
The Levitical priesthood with its sacrifices and washings are gone (Hebrews 9:6-18). But not the Ten Commandments.
Strangely, the following was actually sent to this author as supposed “proof” that the Ten Commandments were done away:
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)
The above says that the Ten Commandments show love, not that they are not in place. One does not fulfill the law of love by murdering, committing adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, and coveting.
While the above only had the last five commandments, consider the following:
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21)
We show love towards God by keeping the first five commandments as well.
Oddly, after bringing up many of these ‘objection to the Ten Commandments scriptures,’ which I addressed, a Jehovah’s Witness supporter said that the other commandments were in force, but he would not keep the Sabbath command. Many Protestants make similar statements.
But that is contrary to the practices of Jesus and the Apostles, including Paul.
The Psalms Teach that the Commandments Are Truth
The Bible makes it clear that the law of God and the commandments of God are truth and righteous, and are tied to salvation, but that the wicked are far from God's law, truth, and righteousness.
Notice several verses from Psalm 119, written by David:
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.
126 It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void. 127 Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
144 The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
163 I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law.
165 Great peace have those who love Your law
166 LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments.
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
In Acts 13:22, David was praised as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). David kept and promoted God’s commandments. Notice also:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. (Psalm 111:10)
Christians do and live God’s way. Love is NOT just a feeling. Love is showing outgoing concern for others. The Ten Commandments help us know right from wrong.
While the basic Church of God view is that the commandments show love, the basic Protestant view (followers of William Tyndale notwithstanding) seems to be that the law contained in the ten commandments is done away and that they (most Protestants) show love apart from the law.
David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), wrote:
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)
God’s law is not within our hearts if we are not striving to obey.
The Bible teaches that Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Certain Protestants feel that since they cannot do that, they are relying on Jesus when they do not even try to keep God’s commandments—that is lawlessness. In the Church of God, we believe we are to imitate Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1) and strive for perfection as He taught (Matthew 5:48)—this is NOT salvation by works, but understanding the wisdom of God’s plan and the value of His laws.
In the view of the Church of God, the cause of many of the problems people now experience is because they have rejected God's governance over their lives, including keeping His laws.
The main Protestant view seems to be that most of the problems people have are because they live on the Earth, and that for some reason other than obeying God's commandments, paradise--which they define as being in heaven--will be better than Earth.
But it is the obedience to the loving laws of God that will be paradise. It is not floating away on some cloud. All will be able to see that in the millennium (Revelation 20:4-6; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-4).
God’s Commandments are Important and Holy
Keeping God’s commandments is important:
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV)
Keeping the commandments should be done by all people! Not just ancient Jews.
After seeing certain of the arguments against the Ten Commandments, what tends to happen is that some of those arguing against them tend to feel that nine are still in effect (though they do not normally keep those properly) and that the Sabbath commandment is either done away or has somehow been changed.
Because of that, the chapter on the Sabbath commandment was longer than the others. The bottom line is that the New Testament does enjoin the seventh-day Sabbath and it was not ‘nailed to the cross’ and is shown again after Jesus’ execution to be in force.
Some have argued that because of the council in Acts chapter 15, that God’s laws are done away. Yet, that council was mainly convened to deal with circumcision and other physical matters.
The Apostle Paul, who attended that council, did not believe that the Ten Commandments were done away by it as he was inspired to write:
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (1 Corinthians 7:19)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
In the Book of Genesis, Abraham declared:
25 ... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)
Christians are to be holy:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Christians are to keep God’s holy law.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. (Romans 7:12)
Does that not suggest that God would have revealed His commandments to humans from the beginning?
Yet, some, in their effort to justify not observing the Ten Commandments, have argued that the Ten Commandments were not enjoined in the Bible prior to Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:2-17).
However, as this booklet has documented, this is not biblically correct. The commandments are holy and good.
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, KJV)
Do not let pride or lust get in the way of keeping all of the Ten Commandments.
The Apostle Paul taught:
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5).
Consider also that Jesus said:
10 I have kept My Father’s commandments. (John 15:10).
As documented in our book The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast, it is clear that Jesus taught every one of the Ten Commandments. Plus, He also kept them. We are to have His mind.
Is it Pharisaical to Keep the Ten Commandments?
Some claim that it is ‘pharisaical’ to keep the Ten Commandments and that is supposedly why Jesus condemned them.
Yet, the Pharisees were condemned for their hypocrisy and because they did not properly keep the Ten Commandments (cf. Matthew 15:3-9; 23:13-29; John 7:19).
Notice how the Pharisees seemed to violate each of the ten commandments:
Thus, the Bible either states or implies that the Pharisees, one way or the other, violated all ten of the commandments!
They are like the two beasts of Revelation 13 that way!
Keeping the Commandments Shows Faith
Ezekiel prophesied that the commandments, including the Sabbath, would be kept in the future (Ezekiel 44:24).
Various Protestants, however, claim that teaching the Ten Commandments is teaching salvation by works. That is not the case as we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
But those who say that they have faith without works are deceiving themselves:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:18-20)
Jesus said He never knew those that practiced lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). Those who do not strive to keep the Ten Commandments are practicing lawlessness, not righteousness.
Both the Old (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 112:1) and New Testaments (Revelation 22:14) teach that blessings come to those that keep the commandments.
Do you have faith in the word of God? Most do not.
Even if keeping the commandments seems difficult, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1), and those that truly have faith will do so. The apostles taught that Christians, including Gentile ones (Romans 15:18), were to be obedient (2 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Peter 1:14).
Those who will not repent of lawlessness will not be in the Kingdom (Matthew 13:41-43).
The ‘Mystery of Lawlessness’
Many try to appear to the world to be ‘good Christians,’ but they practice lawlessness. This has happened throughout the church age.
Notice the following warning from the Apostle Paul:
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
The above prophecy shows that the mystery of lawlessness was present in the Apostle Paul’s day, but that even worse lawlessness would arise later. (Some other translations call it the "mystery of iniquity.")
Paul wrote that those who will believe the lie from the lawless one (the Beast of the Sea of Revelation 13) are condemned because they “did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Since all of God’s commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172), these are those who are not keeping the commandments of God.
The Apostle Paul reported that the “mystery of lawlessness” had already begun in his day (2 Thessalonians 2:7) and that people should not be deceived “with empty words” to get them to disobey (Ephesians 5:6). That “mystery” is manifested by the Greco-Roman-Protestants when it comes to many aspects of God’s laws, like the Ten Commandments (they reason around them).
The true Church of God upholds God’s law (1 John 5:1-3). It teaches that God set in motion laws, that if obeyed, would bring humanity much good, including abundant well-being and a productive full life.
Consider:
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)
The Bible reveals that keeping God’s commandments brings understanding (Psalm 111:10) and happiness (Proverbs 16:16) to those that trust Him.
The true Church of God proclaims that God’s law is not done away, but has been “exalted” and made “honorable” (Isaiah 42:21) and expanded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17-48).
Yet, many who profess Christ want to believe the lie that the Ten Commandments are done away and/or do not mean what they say because of false traditions of men as well as wrong translations. Those who love the truth will not rely on those lies, but what the word of God really teaches.
The true Church of God teaches what the Bible teaches:
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. (Psalm 119:172)
The true church teaches that God’s Ten Commandment law is one of His greatest gifts to mankind and that His commandments are righteousness. Keeping them reflects love. “Now the purpose of the commandment is love” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Well, recall that Adam and Eve sinned when they took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, not all that they learned was evil, but also some good.
Today, the world’s churches appear to do some good. Many people have given their lives to promote what they felt was right. Many have tried to serve others. Often the clergy makes statements that are good or at least seem good.
That is part of why this is the MYSTERY of iniquity. If it was always clearly bad, people would tend to recognize that. But when good and bad are mixed together, this is harder for most to see.
Some believe that casting out demons, speaking in tongues, apparitions, various wondrous signs are the proof a church is true. But that is NOT what Jesus taught:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
Notice that despite the claims of mainly Protestants, simply calling Jesus ‘Lord’ is not sufficient. The word translated as lawlessness is the same word anomia that this article has been pointing to. Notice that God rebukes those that err from His commandments:
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. (Psalm 119:21, KJV)
Notice something that Jesus warned about:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12-14)
Notice that lawlessness, from the Greek word anomian, will abound in the time of the end. The love of many waxing cold seems to be a reference to the Laodiceans--they tend to think because they keep the law (and society is going further away from it), that they are fine--but they are not according to Jesus (Revelation 3:14-18).
The Laodiceans are not truly supporting getting the witness of the gospel of the kingdom out--their hearts are really not in it--they are not opposed to it, but are not hot (they are lukewarm) about it.
Very few moderns understand the mystery of lawlessness, though a thorough search of scriptures (Isaiah 28:10-13) will help explain it (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The “mystery of lawlessness” is related to professing Christians who believe that they do not need to keep God’s Ten Commandment law, etc. and/or there are so many acceptable exceptions to it and/or there are acceptable forms of penance to break God’s law, so while they think they have a form of God’s law, they are not keeping a form of Christianity that Jesus or His apostles would recognize as legitimate.
Many of the Greco-Romans are like the Pharisees who violated God’s commandments, but claimed their traditions made this acceptable—Jesus denounced that approach (Matthew 15:3-9)! Isaiah also warned that people claiming to be God’s would rebel against His law (Isaiah 30:9). This is something we, sadly, see to this day.
This “mystery of lawlessness” was “already at work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7) when the apostles were alive. This is also related to something that the Bible warns against in the end times that is called “Mystery, Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:3-5).
It is a mystery to the Greco-Roman Protestants because they normally officially do not believe that they need to keep the law. Many Protestants tend to claim Jesus ‘fulfilled the law’ and ‘nailed it to the cross.’
Protestants tend to believe that if they ‘love Jesus’ that is how they are keeping the law. But those that believe that have deceived themselves:
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6)
Lawlessness is a mystery to nearly all who consider themselves Protestant. Also, since many Protestants have historically believed that since a pontiff will be the final Antichrist, the references to the mystery of lawlessness is not something they believe relates to them.
It is a mystery to the Greco-Roman Catholics (the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics) because they officially believe that they actually teach the Ten Commandments, thus they do not believe that they teach lawlessness. Many of them tend to believe that is what the Protestants do, hence they feel that if this reference has to do with Christianity, it relates to Protestantism. They fail to realize that because of their ‘traditions’ they reason around them, as do Protestants that claim that they keep the Ten Commandments (see also the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?).
The Roman Catholic Frederick William Faber (died 1863) taught:
Protestantism {is} an anticipation of Antichrist (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today, 1984, p. 88)
Let’s consider some of the Ten Commandments and how the Greco-Roman-Protestants violate them.
There are many ways that the Greco-Roman-Protestants violate the first commandment. The most obvious is that they put traditions of humans above the word of God.
They do this in many ways, including the fact that the Greco-Roman-Protestants normally observe re-labeled pagan holidays (Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.) as opposed to God’s Holy Days. They mix scriptures alongside modified pagan rituals, which most seem to accept.
Ishtar, also known as Easter/Oster/Ostern was the goddess of fertility and war. Ishtar also has ties to the ancient Babylonian mystery religion and Nimrod. She was also called Beltis. Belits was the wife of Bel-Nimrod. She was called “the Queen of Fertility” and also known as “the Great Mother” (similar to how some revere Mary, the mother of Jesus today) and essentially was also Ishtar in the Assyrian triad (Clare IS. Ancient oriental nations, Volume 1 of The Unrivaled History of the World: Containing a Full and Complete Record of the Human Race from the Earliest Historical Period to the Present Time, Embracing a General Survey of the Progress of Mankind in National and Social Life, Civil Government, Religion, Literature, Science and Art. Unrivaled Publishing Co., 1889, pp. 222-223).
As far as the second commandment goes, the Greek/Eastern Orthodox essentially claim that since Jesus came physically, that this commandment is no longer particularly relevant (Ware T. The Orthodox Church. Penguin Books, London, 1997, p. 33), so they now have churches filled with idols and icons. This is despite the
Apostle John’s warning to keep away from idols (1 John 5:21).
The Roman Catholics have decided that they can combine this command to be part of the first, even though early Christians realized that these were two separate commands.
Now while Protestants do not normally have the same idols and icons, there is some idolatry associated with many Protestant churches (steeples—a sun god symbol, and crosses come to mind). Certain Protestant preachers also seem to make an idol of money.
As far as money goes, the Vatican has vast amounts of gold, silver, jewelry, and ‘priceless’ art. It also has hungry members around the world, but does not seem to believe that it should sell those artifacts (many of which are idols) to support the hungry. The apostles helped the poor and those affected by famines (cf. James 2:14-17; Galatians 2:10; Acts 11:28-30).
And the third commandment? Consider:
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men ...” (Mark 7:5-8)
The Greco-Roman-Protestants often put traditions of humans above the word of God.
Furthermore, despite what Jesus taught about swearing (Matthew 5:33-37), most Greco-Roman-Protestants will swear oaths.
The Greco-Roman-Protestants-Jehovah’s Witnesses also do not believe that the fourth commandment is meant to be observed literally. They do not believe it is wrong to work on the Sabbath, plus they usually claim that Sunday is the Sabbath.
The Bible clearly shows that the command to keep the seventh day Sabbath is in the New Testament (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11). It also teaches that only those who will not observe it because of their disobedience argue otherwise. And that is why Paul observed it.
Even the Greek-speaking Origen understood some of this as he wrote:
But what is the feast of the Sabbath except that which the apostle speaks, “There remaineth therefore a Sabbatism,” that is, the observance of the Sabbath, by the people of God ... let us see how the Sabbath ought to be observed by a Christian. On the Sabbath-day all worldly labors ought to be abstained from ... give yourselves up to spiritual exercises, repairing to church, attending to sacred reading and instruction ... this is the observance of the Christian Sabbath (Translated from Origen’s Opera 2, Paris, 1733, in Andrews JN. History of the Sabbath, 3rd edition, 1887).
Origen understood koine Greek. Now although many Protestants mistakenly believe that despite what the Bible says, the Sabbath commandment is done away, even Martin Luther, the famous Protestant Reformer, believed that Christians had to keep the Sabbath. But he taught it for the wrong day and wrong number, and wrong way (Luther M. A treatise on Good Works together with the Letter of Dedication, published 1520).
Anyway, another mystery of iniquity is partially keeping Sunday as the Sabbath. Sunday was used to honor the pagan sun gods, and was not kept truly as a Sabbath by the Sunday pagans. Nor do many actually attempt to keep Sunday as a Christian would truly keep the seventh-day Sabbath.
Many think making some effort to keep Sunday fulfills the Sabbath commandment. But that is based on human tradition and outward appearances, not the Bible.
As far as the fifth commandment goes, the Greco-Roman-Protestants do believe they teach that children should honor their parents. But since God is our Father, they will not go far enough to honor Him by obeying His word.
Greco-Roman-Protestants generally condone militaristic murder.
John the Baptist addressed the military this way:
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).
The word translated as ‘intimidate’ is the Greek word diaseio which the KJV translates as violence. Strong’s translates it to shake thoroughly, to intimidate, to do violence to. It comes from two Greek words ‘diagnosis’ and ‘seio’; diagnosis is translated as examination and seio as to rock, agitate, to throw in a tremor. There is no way a soldier cannot ‘agitate/intimidate’ if they are trying to kill someone.
Now Jesus was a Jewish citizen, but His kingdom, His true citizenship, was not of this world--the same reasoning applies to His servants, true Christians, which is why we do not fight. Nor do we encourage violence in sports.
Christians ARE NOT to be of this world! But the mystery of iniquity has persuaded people that this is God’s world and that military service is appropriate for Christians (see also Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?).
It should also be noted that real Christians have always been the persecuted, not the persecutors. This differs from the Greco-Roman-Protestants all of whom have engaged in deadly persecutions.
Related to the seventh commandment, Jesus expanded the common definition of adultery and put restrictions on divorce (Matthew 5:27-32).
The Roman Catholics supposedly do not allow divorce, but their annulment and remarriage practices make a mockery of that. That church is in violation of keeping the seventh commandment.
The Protestants do not even pretend to prohibit divorce and remarriage--and that is actually why the Church of England was founded. King Henry the VIII wanted a divorce that the Bishop of Rome would not grant him, so he left that faith and started a new one in his country. And most of the Catholic clergy ‘converted’ and joined him.
The Greek/Eastern Orthodox church claims to be against divorce, but it allows/encourages priests to put away their wives if they are to become bishops. That is wrong. Consider the following:
13 … You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. (Malachi 2:13-15)
The Greek Orthodox priests who drop being married are dealing wrongly with their wives, yet this is officially encouraged.
Related to the eighth commandment, in addition to having a history of stealing land and property from real Christians and others, the Greco-Roman-Protestants generally do not believe in fully tithing.
Jesus taught that tithing should be done (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42). In Malachi God says that not tithing is stealing (Malachi 3:8-10).
The ‘mystery of iniquity’ indicates that since you ‘cannot afford’ to tithe that you do not have to. This seems good to some.
As far as the ninth commandment, many doctrines of the Greco-Roman-Protestants bear false witness against the Bible.
Satan’s tactics include the use of innuendo and name calling. Satan has long gotten people to speak against the true faith:
22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere. (Acts 28:22)
They often claim that those of us in the true Church of God are in a cult. That happened to the Apostle Paul (Acts 24:5,14; 28:22).
Some of the Greco-Roman-Protestants call groups like the Continuing Church of God a cult and imply it is outside of genuine Christianity, which is bearing false witness.
The Roman Catholic practice of confession, while appearing pious on its surface, has the tendency to teach people it is okay to lie if pressured as all they have to do is to go to confession and repeat memorized prayers as the penalty to get over sin.
While most of the Greco-Roman-Protestant faiths officially oppose covetousness, the reality is that their societies tend not to see this as a problem. They also get involved improperly with worldly politics.
Furthermore, how the Church of Rome handles matters related to death, specifically its doctrine of purgatory, is covetous and seems to be something that Jesus warned against (Luke 20:46-47). Its early acceptance of Marcion, after he was denounced by Polycarp, because Marcion gave money, has affected it to this day. The Bible warns about a mother church that is too involved with money and political power in Revelation 17.
A Roman Catholic source promoted the “Purgatorian Gospel” as a unique and great teaching of the Church of Rome. It essentially seems to be that it is fine to sin and not truly repent as God will have you suffer enough in Purgatory to earn your salvation. Although promoters of it deny this, that is the end result of their doctrine and that is a false gospel. The “Purgatorian Gospel” promotes iniquity as it does not result in proper repentance for sin in this life--which is something Christians must do (cf. Acts 2:38; Hebrews 12:14-17).
Sadly, the Greco-Roman-Protestant-Jehovah’s Witnesses and others have accepted the mystery of lawlessness. Certain Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses teach against the need for Christians to keep the Ten Commandments. Whereas the Greco-Roman and certain other Protestant churches reason around their observance.
Over time, more and more in the Greco-Roman churches considered exceptions to God’s laws as normal and acceptable.
The late COG evangelist Dr. Herman Hoeh wrote:
In Acts 20:29-30, the teacher of the gentiles explains how the apostasy would begin. He gathered the elders (ministers) of the Church at Ephesus to deliver them a final message concerning their responsibility over the local congregations. “For,” said Paul, “I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things.” Why? “To draw away the disciples after themselves.” To gain a personal following for themselves. To start new denominations!
Do you catch the full significance of these two verses? The elders or ministers were especially assembled because, immediately after Paul would leave Ephesus, there would come within the local church congregations false ministers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, to make a prey of Christians. And even from those elders already in the church congregations some would pervert the doctrine of Jesus to secure a following for themselves.
In instructing the evangelist Timothy, Paul instructed him to “convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires” — wanting to do what they please — “... they will heap up for themselves teachers” — encourage ministers who will preach what they want to hear — “and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (II Timothy 4:2-4). This was in the days of the apostles and evangelists. Many who fellowshipped in the local congregations of the early Church, after about two generations, did not endure sound doctrine because they had not really repented and therefore had never received the Holy Spirit. They followed teachers who, for the sake of money, pleased their wishes by preaching fables — the enticing fables of mysticism and sun worship that were engulfing the Roman Empire.
When Paul wrote his second letter to the gentile-born Thessalonians, he instructed them about the “mystery of iniquity” that “doth already work” (II Thessalonians 2:7, AV). Notice: Teachings of lawlessness were at work in Paul’s day. The Roman world was filled with mystery religions that stemmed from the old sun worshiping mysteries.
Many of them found that by including the name of Jesus their following increased.
Jude had to include in his letter the admonition that every Christian should
“contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.... These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit” (Jude 3-4, 19).
They taught penance, not repentance.
Jude says these preachers separated their followers from the body of believers.
By the time John wrote his epistles, he had this sad note to include about those who at first crept in unnoticed: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (I John 2:19). (Hoeh H. Why So Many Denominations. Good News magazine, May 1985)
Do not be deceived by religious leaders that ‘look good’ to you if they do not endorse, teach, and strive to keep all the Ten Commandments.
The Apostle Paul warned:
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)
Paul continued to keep God’s laws (Acts 25:8). Jesus did (John 15:10) and Paul taught to imitate him as he imitated Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).
The mystery of lawlessness/iniquity is that the religious Greco-Roman-Protestants-Jehovah’s Witnesses reason around many of God’s laws and commandments, yet still think their faith is fine.
While many go that way, Jesus warned that would happen (Matthew 7:13). He taught that few (called a “little flock” in Luke 12:32) would go the right way (Matthew 7:14).
The mystery of iniquity is practicing a false religion that looks good to Satan and various others, but not to God.
Jesus taught:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
The truth is that the Bible teaches that true Christians keep the commandments (Revelation 12:17; 14:12).
The Two Beasts and the Ten Commandments
A major difference between true Christians and others in the end time is that true Christians will be keeping the Ten Commandments.
Jesus’ disciples asked Him what to expect for the end times (Matthew 24:3). Here is some of what Jesus said to expect:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)
Lawless is to abound and less love. Less reverence for God’s commandments. Yet, the faithful that endure to the end will be saved. Perseverance produces character and character hope (Romans 5:4). Christians will need hope during the reign of the Beast (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5-7).
Christians Keep the Ten Commandments
The Book of Revelation is clear that real Christians who are keeping God’s commandments will be persecuted by those misled by Satan (the dragon) and followers of the Beast:
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
Notice also the following:
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:9-13)
End time Christians keep the Ten Commandments. These are not just “believing Jews” like some Protestants have improperly claimed.
With the Beast power, we see someone who opposes those who keep the Ten Commandments.
The Beast Power Pushes Commandment Breaking
The man of sin will promote sin. He is involved with the 'mystery of lawlessness' also called the 'mystery of iniquity' because he will feign being religious and moral. People who have not accepted the true faith, will follow him. He will not tolerate those who actually keep God’s Ten Commandments.
He is the Beast that rises from the sea in Revelation 13 and is shown to violate several of the Ten Commandments below:
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:1-10)
That Beast is assisted by, as well as promoted by, the second Beast who comes from the earth and also violates the Ten Commandments:
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18)
The Bible provides support that the two Beasts will violate each one of the ten commandments. This power will put himself above all gods.
As far as the first commandment, and one of those beasts go, notice the following:
36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. (Daniel 11:36-37)
The king above is the King of the North, who is called the Beast “of the sea” in Revelation 13:1 and the “first beast” in Revelation 13:12.
The Antichrist is the second “beast,” and is the beast “of the earth” (Revelation 13:11). The final Antichrist will be supporting the first Beast, and will try to force people to wrorship the Beast, hance he is against keeping the first commandment:
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12)
As far as the second commandment goes, notice the following the beast will do:
38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:38)
The Antichrist Beast will try to force people against keeping the second commandment:
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:14-15)
Idolatry definitely is a mark of the beast (and the Beast power may use symbols, like crosses, that many will consider acceptable).
Interestingly, Roman Catholic prophecy warns on the one hand that the Antichrist will use a cross:
Priest P. Huchedé (19th century): Antichrist will further make all men, great and small, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, bear a sign on their right arm or their forehead. (Apoc. 13:16). What this sign shall be time alone will reveal. Yet there are some {Catholic} commentators of the Holt Writ, who, according to a special revelation pretend to say that it shall be formed out of the Greek letters X and P, interlaced…which resembles the number of Christ. (Cornelius a Lapide in Epis. 2 to Thes.). No one can either buy or sell without this mark, as specified in the Apocalypse (13:17). (Huchedé, P. Translated by JBD. History of Antichrist. Imprimatur: Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal. English edition 1884, Reprint 1976. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 24).
St. Hildegard of Bingen (12th century): The mark of the Antichrist will be a {distorted} symbol of Baptism ... (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, p. 129).
Crosses are a symbol of Greco-Roman Catholic baptisms. If the cross is a symbol of the future Antichrist/Beast power as Priest P. Huchedé indicates it could be (and it is in a book with an official imprimatur), perhaps those who come from faiths descended from Emperor Constantine should be concerned about their religion now–before it becomes even further removed from the original faith.
And on the other hand, Greco-Roman prophecy points to their "Great Monarch"--who sounds like the Beast of the Sea in Revelation 13, will be announced with a cross:
Anonymou Paraphrasis (10th century): The one true King … is destined to become manifest [be revealed] … by means … of signs … The King will hear the voice and instructions by an Angel appearing to him … he has foresight and is cognizant of the text of the prophecies … the name of the King is hidden [concealed] among the nations … And the particular manner of the king’s manifestation to the public [to the world] will take place as follows: A star will appear [will become visible] for three days long and during the third hour of the night, on the eve of the feast day of the Mother of the Most High (it will become visible) in the Middle of the City. And this star is not one among the planets … And a herald speaking with a very loud voice in the course of the three days will summon and unveil the hoped for one … There will become visible in the sky a ‘nebulous firmament of the sun’ … under that image will be suspended a cross … And the invisible herald from Heaven with his thunderous voice will say to the people: Is this man agreeable to you? At that moment everybody will be taken by fear and terror ... they will elevate him on a high spot and will proclaim him (their) hereditary Monarch (Tzima Otto, The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies, H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, pp. 30, 31, 32, 50-51,52,53).
Josefa von Bourg (d. 1807): God will choose a descendant of Constantine, Pepin, and St. Louis, who has been tried by a long period of exile to rule over Europe. He will have the sign of the cross on his breast ... Under him the Catholic religion will spread as never before (Culleton, pp. 181-182; Connor, p.37).
The Bible indicates that the true Christians will NOT have the symbol/mark needed to buy or sell when the two beasts of Revelation 13 are in power, but only those that will follow those beasts will (Revelation 13:16-17)–and while crosses may not necessarily be required everywhere, other Greco-Roman Catholic writings suggest that in certain places, they will be.
Anne Catherine Emmerich (October, 1820): warriors, led by a rider on a white horse; and … citizens and peasants, many of whom were marked on the forehead with a red cross. As this army drew near, the captives and oppressed were delivered and swelled the ranks whilst the demolishers and conspirators were put to flight on all sides (Emmerich AC. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich. Schmöger edition, Vol. II. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourg Peter Joseph. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1976, pp. 290-291)
Let it be noted that the rider of the white horse would be the beast of the earth, the Antichrist. The two beasts reportedly will be supported by people marked on their foreheads with crosses.
As far as the third commandment goes, notice the following related to the first Beast:
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, (Daniel 7:25)
36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, (Daniel 11:36)
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)
As far as the fourth commandment goes, notice the following about the beast and the Antichrist:
25 He … shall intend to change times and law. (Daniel 7:25)
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17)
11 … they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11)
Perhaps the Beast will modify the calendar and change the days of the week somehow. Various Sabbath-keepers have felt that Sunday-keeping was the ‘mark of the beast.’ Christians will enter God’s rest (Hebrews 4:9-11), the Beast’s followers will not.
The ‘mark of the beast’ involves commandment breaking.
As far as the fifth commandment goes, notice the following:
37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers . . . for he shall exalt himself above them all. (Daniel 11:37).
The context of this implies dishonoring his parents, though that is not fully explicit. Consider also that the beast will betray his harlot spiritual mother—and not be repentant:
16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:16-18)
It should be pointed out that since we are to hallow the name of the Father (Matthew 6:9) and the Beast clearly blasphemes Him (Daniel 11:36), the Beast is promoting the violation of the fifth commandment.
As far as the sixth commandment goes, the beast will kill as a persecuting military leader (see also Daniel 7:25):
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4)
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. (Revelation 13:7)
The Beast will also cause others to be killed:
15 … the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:15)
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. (Daniel 11:32-33)
As far as the seventh commandment goes, the two beasts will be among those that commit fornication with Mystery Babylon the Great:
1 …”Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:1-5)
The Beast will participate in and promote spiritual adultery (cf. James 4:4; Ezekiel 23:37).
As far as the eighth commandment goes, the beast will takeover other countries and take what they have:
39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.
40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through . . . 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. (Daniel 11:39-40, 43)
The Beast will take land and precious items.
As far as the ninth commandment goes, the King of the North beast will lie and cause deceit to prosper (he is one of the kings below):
27 Both these kings' hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:27)
25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; (Daniel 8:25)
23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. (Daniel 11:23)
People who do not have proper “love of the truth” will believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:12). A lie encouraged by ‘miracles’ (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 13:11-15), economic blackmail (Revelation 13:16-18), and persecution (Daniel 11:31-35; Revelation 13:7).
As far as the tenth commandment goes, notice the following:
25 … He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. (Daniel 8:25)
24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:24)
The Beast is covetous of power and possessions and will devise plans to take what is not his. He even wants God’s power.
The Beast will violate all of God’s Ten Commandments and expect his followers to do so as well.
Scripture refers to the violation of each of the Ten Commandments as sin. e.g.: 1st 1 Samuel 15:24-25; 2nd Exodus 32:22-30; 3rd Job 2:9-10 (cf. Psalm 39:1); 4th Nehemiah 9:14, 28-29; 5th Luke 15:18 (NIV; cf. 1 Samuel 24:11); 6th Genesis 4:7; 7th Genesis 39:9; 8th Matthew 5:30 (cf. Genesis 31:30,36); 9th Deuteronomy 23:21; 10th Romans 7:17.
Consider also that the Bible calls this commandment breaker “the man of sin … the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Perilous Times
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write the following related to the end times:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
While the above includes many, including many politicians, consider how this describes the Beast.
Paul is clearly warning against people in the end who do not show regard towards God’s commandments.
And that includes the “man of sin.”
Not Done Away
Notice we are held accountable for our actions:
18 As for his father, because he oppressed and offered violence to his brother, and wrought evil in the midst of his people, behold he is dead in his own iniquity. 19 And you say: Why hath not the son borne the iniquity of his father? Verily, because the son hath wrought judgment and justice, hath kept all my commandments, and done them, living, he shall live. (Ezekiel 18:18-19, DRB)
Breaking God’s commandments is iniquity and iniquity is sin. Keeping God’s commandments leads to life. That has been so since the beginning. Protestant translations like the NKJV and KJV teach the same thing.
The patience of the saints in the New Testament is that they will keep God’s commandments during the time of this Beast (Revelation 14:12).
Some wish to teach that the Ten Commandments are done away. Yet, notice what the last chapter of the last book of the Bible teaches:
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)
Do not believe a lie! The Ten Commandments are not done away.
Some may point out the Sabbath commandment and that first commandment and some others are missing from Revelation 22.
Yet, the Bible is clear that people will keep the Sabbath and worship God after Jesus returns:
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 66:22-23)
So, we see that the Sabbath will be kept.
God expects His people to keep the Ten Commandments and His true people have done so throughout the entire church age.
All Have Sinned
Other than Jesus (Hebrews 4:15), the Bible teaches:
23 … all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Some question that, but the Bible also teaches that Christians sin:
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
Since the New Testament teaches that all have sinned, this shows that the law has not been done away. So, is there hope?
Certainly!
Notice what the Apostle John wrote:
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:6-9)
Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote:
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25)
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (Romans 6:17-19)
We are not saved by keeping the Ten Commandments:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Keeping the Ten Commandments is part of the way God wants His true people to walk.
But we will not be saved if we do not strive to do so.
Notice what the Apostle Peter said:
29. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We are obligated to obey God rather than men. ... 32. And we are His witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:29, 32, A Faithful Version)
Notice something that the Apostle Paul wrote:
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9)
Yes, God expects obedience.
The New Testament and the Ten Commandments
The two Beasts are evil (cf. Daniel 11:27; Jude 8, 10).
Jesus taught that breaking the commandments was evil (Mark 7:21-23) and keeping them showed love (Matthew 22:37-40). New Testament writers repeatedly pointed to the commandments. Yet, many who profess Christianity will not truly keep them.
The New Testament teaches that the Ten Commandments show love to God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40; James 2:8-12).
The Ten Commandments are not just a bunch of rules, they help show God’s people the give way of life, and thus how to live. The New Testament not only enjoins the Ten Commandments, it expands them. Christians are to persevere and build character (Romans 5:4). Keeping the Ten Commandments in this age helps the Christian build character and, thus, will help make eternity better.
We are not to just not curse, but not call ourselves after God without truly being Christian. We are not just to rest on the Sabbath, but to do good. We are not just to not kill, we are to love our enemies. We are not to just not steal, but are to work and give. We are not to not just not bear false witness, but are to be witnesses to the truth.
We are not just to follow a bunch of rules for ourselves, but we should be nice to people. We should be committed to doing God’s work. We should practice kindness (Proverbs 19:22). Pray for others (Matthew 5:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:25). Keeping the commandments as God intended manifests the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The mystery of iniquity involves teachers who claim Jesus, but practice lawlessness. The end time Beast powers will be against the true Christians, which are those that keep God’s commandments. The commandment-keepers will be resisting the commandment breakers—which is something persecuted true Christians have done throughout history. Though in the end, for many, it will be worse than it ever had been (cf. Daniel 7:25; Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 13:5-10).
Will you be on the side of God and the Ten Commandments or on the side of the two Beasts and others who accept and promote lawlessness?
It is only those who keep God’s commandments, and not those who believe in lies against them, that will have the right to “the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14-15).
Do not be deceived by false traditions of men—let no one “take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).
Be blessed: keep the Ten Commandments and live as a real Christian (Revelation 14:12, 22:14; Ecclesiastes 12:13).
If you are a real Christian, you should “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Stand for the truth and God’s loving commandments.
Don't be like the two beasts and those who go along with anti-Ten Commandments' teachings.
Thiel B. Two Beasts and Ten Commandments. COGwriter (c) 2024 https://www.cogwriter.com/2beasts10commandments.htm 2024 0919