July 29, 2022

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. Revelation 16:8-9

Of the seven last plagues, the fourth—which is the middle of the seven—parallels the fourth commandment, which is in the heart of the Lord’s ten commandments. The fourth commandment identifies God as the Creator, and it identifies the Sabbath as His day. We are reminded to Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. . .(Exodus 20:8)

It was on the fourth day of creation that the sun was created (Genesis 1:14-19). Throughout the history of man, there has been a satanic influence to make the sun an object of worship, an idol. Every pagan culture has a special name for the sun god. There are numerous gods and goddesses that man has created, but the sun god is the most universal across the cultures and centuries.

Satan’s subtle influence among us has worked slowly during the church age to deceive God’s people into believing that the first day of the week, named by Romans as the sun-day, and cited by Constantine as the Venerable Day of the Sun, has been substituted for the Sabbath of the Lord. Just as the Lord has patiently worked with sinful man for thousands of years on other vitally important issues, He continues to guide us back to His word, that we may be finally corrected on this issue as well.

At its zenith, Babylon was a mixed culture of many conquered peoples united in the worship of the sun. Today, in the wake of disasters, violence, pandemics, etc., weary people will be led to unite around a plan that lifts Sunday as the worldwide day of rest. A longing for peace will make people vulnerable to man’s ideas for achieving it. But God’s way leads to the only true peace. This is why the Bible refers to man’s end-time coalition as Babylon and patiently calls His people out of her (Revelation 18:4). We are graciously told of the last plagues ahead of time, that we can make a safe exit from every form of false worship and step into the Light of Life.

Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5:17

If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgement, For I would have denied God who is above. Job 31:26-28

Consider these verses: Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3, 2 Kings 23:5-11, Ezekiel 8:16, Exodus 31:13,17-18; 32:6, 1 Corinthians 10:5-7