IT WAS NOT your usual church service last Friday night at Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in Whitehall, St Michael.
Rather, Pastor David Beckles continued his series of services during a prophecy seminar, which looked at the unfolding of end-time events in the earth.
Before sharing on the mark of the beast, he recapped the story of the three Hebrew boys – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who refused to worship the golden image as decreed by King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel Chapter 3. Subsequently, they were placed in a fiery furnace.
He also shared about Daniel in Daniel 6, who chose to disobey the command of King Darius not to pray to his God and was therefore thrown into the lion’s den. The scriptures would reveal that Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel were all saved because they sought to obey the commands of God and not of men.
Beckles said it was necessary to have this kind of spiritual strength when faced with tough situations, and to stand firm in one’s faith and belief in God.
As he went on to speak about the mark of the beast, he said the central issue surrounding the church in the end times would evolve around worship, God’s moral laws and the Ten Commandments.
He said the beast in Revelation 13 revealed that a powerful world ruler would unite the church and state, and this would bring much trouble in the earth. He also spoke about those who would receive the mark of the beast as a means of “survival”, and shared about receiving the seal of God. He said the seal spoke about “who is in charge, title and territory”.
“We have a choice to choose,” the pastor said, as he urged his listeners to carefully study the prophecy found in Revelation 13.
Beckles also shared on the role of papal Rome during end-time prophesies as well as the part the United States would play. He said the time would come when the US would not be the loving, kind nation it now appeared to be. He told his congregation to keep their eyes on America.
False prophecies
The preacher added that not every miracle was proof that it was of God since in the end times, “there will be false prophecies and ‘miracles’ orchestrated by the devil and his demons”.
“The spirit of devils will work miracles,” he said. “We are moving to the final things; the final battle will be spiritual warfare and many will receive the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead. Without this mark they will not be able to buy anything.”
As for the Sabbath, he said “there is no scriptural authority for observing Sunday as the day of worship”.
He said Sunday was the mark of ecclesiastical power and authority, and that the church put tradition before and over the laws of the Bible.
“The seventh day Sabbath is based on God’s Holy Word – the Bible. It is not a day to go to cricket, play football or shop. It’s about relationship with God. The Sabbath is at the heart of our worship.”
The service was blessed with great singing by a youthful team of worship leaders.
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