The Undercover Adventist

  The Unchanging Truth of God’s Law When Jesus spoke in Gospel of Matthew 5:17–18, He made it clear that He did not come to destroy God’s law, but to fulfill it. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” He showed that God’s law is not temporary or meaningless. Instead, it reveals God’s character, His holiness, and His love. Many people see God’s commandments as restrictive, but Jesus taught that they are trustworthy and enduring. He declared that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled. This reminds us that God’s truth does not change with culture, opinions, or time. His standards remain firm because His character remains the same. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law and became the example we could never be on our own. Through Him, we learn that obedience is not about earning salvation but about loving God and walking in His ways. When Christ changes the heart, obedience ...

  The Cry for God’s Presence Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12–17 Every believer comes to a point where the greatest need is not simply God’s blessings, but God Himself. In Exodus 33, Moses had already seen God’s mighty power—the burning bush, the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from the rock. Yet, in this passage, Moses pleads with God: “Teach me Your ways… If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” This was not a request for miracles or signs, but for a deeper relationship with God. Moses’ Request: Teach Me Your Ways (vv. 12–13) Moses understood that leading Israel was an impossible task without God’s wisdom. He did not just want to know what God was doing, but why He was doing it. He asked, “Teach me Your ways, so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.” At the burning bush (Exodus 3), Moses first learned who God was—the great I AM . In Egypt, he saw God’s power to deliver. At the Red Sea, ...

  The Law That Leads Us to Christ Text: Romans 3:20–24; Romans 10:4 In Romans 3:20–24 Paul writes, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known… This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” This passage raises an important question: if the Ten Commandments and the law cannot save us, then what role do they play in our lives today? And when Paul says in Romans 10:4 that “Christ is the end of the law,” what does that mean? The Law Reveals Our Need Paul is very clear: the law was never meant to be a ladder by which we climb into heaven. Instead, it is like a mirror. In Romans 3:20 he says the law makes us “conscious of sin.” When we look into God’s commandments, we see His holiness—and at the same time, our failures. The law exposes our brokenness, showing us that we fall short ...

  “The Commandments of God vs. the Commandments of Men: Worship, Wrath, and Allegiance” Opening Scripture: Revelation 13:11–17 We live in an age when lines between truth and error, loyalty and compromise, have grown increasingly blurred. The Bible, however, paints a vivid picture of a coming conflict—one that is not simply political or economic, but fundamentally spiritual. Revelation chapters 13, 14, 16, 19, and 20 speak with urgency about a final showdown over worship —a contest between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. The question is not merely, What do you believe? but Whom do you obey? The Beast and the Image: Counterfeit Worship and False Allegiance ( Revelation 13:11–17 ) John sees a second beast rising out of the earth—one that speaks like a dragon and causes the world to worship the first beast. He performs great signs and deceives the people into setting up an image to the beast. Then, laws are enacted: all who do not worship the image will be...

  Rethinking the Mark of the Beast: Worship, Law, and Allegiance in the End Times An Adventist Reflection The "mark of the beast" is one of the most sobering and often misunderstood prophecies in Scripture. For Seventh-day Adventists, this issue has long been associated with Sunday worship in opposition to the seventh-day Sabbath. But as we approach the "true time of trouble" described in Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 13, it may be time to broaden our understanding. Could it be that the mark of the beast is not merely about a specific day, but rather an issue of complete allegiance? Might the entire law of God—not just the Sabbath—be under attack in the last days? The Issue of Worship At its core, the mark of the beast is about worship . Revelation 13:4, 8, and 15 make it clear that worship is central to the final conflict. The choice will be between worshipping the Creator (Revelation 14:7) or worshipping the beast. While Adventists have rightly emphasized the fou...

  “For Such a Time as This: God’s Remnant in the Last Days” Scripture Readings: Esther 3:1–14 Revelation 12:14–17 Revelation 13:15 There is a profound and sobering parallel between the ancient story of Esther and the prophetic visions of Revelation. Although separated by centuries, both deal with a faithful people, targeted for destruction, yet preserved by God’s providence. In both cases, a remnant is under attack—because they are different, because they are loyal to God, and because they refuse to compromise. The Ancient Decree of Death (Esther 3:1–14) In Esther 3, we meet Haman, a man elevated by King Xerxes, who becomes infuriated because Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow down to him. Haman doesn’t just seek revenge on Mordecai—he manipulates the king into passing a law that will annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire. Note Haman’s words in Esther 3:8: “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep them...

  Many people approach Jesus with questions—not just for knowledge, but to test, to justify, or to seek truth. In Matthew 22:34–40, a lawyer asks Jesus a question meant to test Him: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus’ response is simple yet profound: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." This answer summarizes God’s entire will for humanity—love for God and love for others. The Rich Young Ruler and the Call to Surrender (Matthew 19:16–23): Earlier, another man, a rich young ruler, approached Jesus with a different question: "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus first points him to the commandments, but when the young man claims to have kept them, Jesus reveals the one thing holding him back: "Go, sell wh...

  In Mark 12:28–34, a scribe approaches Jesus with a question that shows a sincere interest in understanding the core of Jewish law. The scribe asks: "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28) Jesus emphasizes that the greatest commandments are to love God completely and to love one's neighbor as oneself. This dual emphasis encapsulates the essence of the law: a relationship of love with God and with others. Mark 12:28-34 offers several profound lessons that can be applied to our lives. The Primacy of Love Love for God: The passage emphasizes that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This teaches us that our relationship with God should be the most important aspect of our lives, influencing everything we do. Love for Others: The second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, highlights the importance of treating others with kindness, compassion, and respect. It reminds us that love for God is exp...

In much Adventist literature and commentary, one would think that there is only one commandment. The Fourth. We seem to ignore the rest, which is too funny. We chide other denominations of ignoring the fourth, while we ourselves never once mention the fifth. Here's a challenge: Can you even recite, right now without looking, the seventh commandment? Probably not. But oh do you have that fourth one down and loaded for action! We keep talking about keeping the Commandments....when in reality, we don't give lip service to any one of them except the fourth. You think the other ones don't matter? Are you telling....no, not telling...PREACHING to your kids to obey you? Honor you? When is the last time you heard a sermon on honoring your fathers and mothers? Never. In fact, we look the other way at society belittling parents. We have movies, TV, the internet, just telling kids to disobey their parents. And we don't say a word. And that seventh one? Commi...

Of course it is! Unless it's not. The Ten Commandments state clearly, you shalt not lie. Or does it? Somehow we never say the Ninth Commandment in it's entirety. Maybe because we don't read The Bible. Maybe because we don't want to. Have YOU ever actually read the Ninth Commandment? Some people are so quick to tell people not to lie because, doggone it! They just know The Bible says thou shalt not lie. Well, we at The UnderCover Adventist are here to tell you the truth. Ex 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Did you actually read it? It points out one, yes, one lie. Not lies. One lie. That's what The Bible says. Now you are asking yourself, why are we even talking about this? Two reasons. 1. We of all people, should know The Bible. 2. Not all lies are condemning lies, and we need to know that. Have you ever kept a secret? Something held back to not inform people at such and such a time? Letting them believe ...