The MARK of the BEAST
by Herbert W. Armstrong
1952 edition
Better be sure whether this brand is upon you! Without it, no man
will be able to buy or sell! Without it, you may be tortured even
unto death! But with it, you shall suffer the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
OF GOD!
SOME used to say this mystic "mark" was the faces on the old
United States dimes. During World War II many said it was
Hitler's swastika. During the Depression New Deal many said it
was Roosevelt's NRA!
No subject has intrigued -- and baffled -- more people in our
generation. Thousands of sermons have been preached on it -- by
professed ministers and evangelists who themselves did not know
what it is! Millions have been curious.
The average sermon on this subject considers one text of
Scripture, only!
Only Text Usually Read
This is the sole passage ordinarily quoted:
"And he [the second "beast"] causeth all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK in their
right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or
sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the
number of his name" (Rev. 13:16-17).
From this one passage the speaker customarily uses his
imagination. The general idea seems to be that since you will not
be able to buy or sell without this mysterious mark, and since we
all wish to be able to buy and sell, therefore we ought to do all
in our power to receive this mark!
But here is an additional passage they neglect to show you:
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up
the wrath of God ... And the seven angels came out of the temple,
having the seven plagues, ... And I heard a great voice out of the
temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the
vials of the WRATH OF GOD upon the earth. And the first went, and
poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and
grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and
upon them which worshipped his image" (Rev. 15:1, 6, and 16:1-2).
If you do have the "mark of the beast," you will be terribly
punished, without mercy, by GOD -- you will receive the seven last
plagues!
How to Tell What It Is!
There are many more references to this subject in the Bible.
Instead of looking at one passage only, then turning away from
God's own revelation of this mystery, and using human imagination
and fancy to conjure up the many ridiculous conclusions being
foisted upon a deceived public by persons devoid of
understanding, let us see what GOD says this MARK really is!
Make no mistake, God tells us plainly what it is! It is
unmistakably, clearly revealed and explained in the Bible! But to
find God's answer, we must have before us all of the scriptures
referring to this subject!
First, from the text universally quoted (Rev. 13:16-17),
notice this: the "mark" is something that will be very popular --
something the majority of people will be in favor of, will seek --
which custom will approve as right -- because no man will be
allowed to "buy or sell," unless he receives this "mark."
Everyone wants to be able to "buy or sell." In this
scriptural usage the expression "buy or sell" more literally
indicates being able to buy -- not that stores or those from whom
one might make purchases of the necessities of life would refuse
to accept the money, but that the one refusing the "mark" would
not be able to buy, would not be able to earn a living, to earn a
wage or salary, or to engage himself in business.
The "mark of the beast," then, has direct bearing on ability
to engage in business, or to hold a job and earn a living.
But let's look at all the facts God reveals on the subject
all the scriptures bearing on it.
What Is the Beast?
First, then, the "beast" itself. The "mark" is the mark of the
"BEAST." This is described in the first verse of this chapter:
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea," records John,
speaking of his prophetic vision, "and saw a beast rise up out of
the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten
crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast
which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the
feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the
dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority"
(Rev. 13:1-2).
What is this weird "beast"? An astounding booklet "Who Is
the Beast?" identifies this wild animal -- a composite wild animal
with the strongest characteristics of the four wild animals
symbolically described in Daniel seven -- as the Roman Empire.
Space does not permit that full identification here. A copy of
this free booklet will be mailed you, without charge, upon
request.
Daniel seven reveals that these "beasts" or wild animals,
symbolize civil GOVERNMENTS, or world empires. Daniel's first
"beast" was like a lion, and it represented the Chaldean Empire
of Nebuchadnezzar, called Babylon. His second, like a bear,
pictured the Persian Empire; his third, with four heads, like a
leopard, represented Alexander's Greco-Macedonian Empire and its
succeeding four divisions after his death; and his fourth beast,
unlike any existing wild animal, the Roman Empire which swallowed
up and absorbed all the others, and embodied the strongest
physical and military characteristics of all its predecessors.
This "beast" of Revelation 13 had the mouth, the strongest
part, of the lion; the feet, the strongest part, of the bear; the
body of the leopard. It included, in the ONE Empire it
represents, the strength of ALL of Daniel's "beasts." It is the
ROMAN EMPIRE.
Notice, the "dragon" gave this Empire its seat and power,
and great authority. Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 both tell us in
plain words this "dragon" is Satan the devil. It is, then, the
political instrument of Satan in ruling and deceiving the world.
WHOSE Mark?
Note this well! The "mark" is the mark of the BEAST -- and the
"beast" is the ROMAN EMPIRE. In Revelation 17 a later stage of
this same wild beast is pictured, and there a "woman" -- a great
CHURCH -- sits astride it, guides it, rules over it. But the MARK
is the mark of the ROMAN EMPIRE -- not the Roman Catholic Church.
That is fact number one. Keep that in mind.
Now in verse 11 (Rev. 13) another "beast" is pictured. This
beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke as a dragon.
The Bible plainly reveals this second "beast" to be the
Roman Catholic Church. This Church is an ecclesiastical world
Empire -- a government. (See article "Papacy," Encyclopedia
Britannica.)
This second beast of Revelation 13 is also pictured in
Revelation 17 as the harlot woman who rode the beast. This fallen
woman or Church is different from all other churches in one
respect. She is organized at the Vatican as a civil Government,
as well as an ecclesiastical church. Nations of the world send
Ambassadors to the Vatican, at Rome, the same as they do the
capitals of other nations.
This Church, just as the woman riding an animal guides and
directs the animal -- like, for example, a woman riding a horse --
took over, exercised, wielded, all the power of the first beast --
the Roman Empire. After 554 A.D., the Church did do this for 1260
years, as prophesied!
Notice, further, verses 15-16:
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as
many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
killed. And he causeth all, ... to receive a mark in their right
hand, or in their foreheads" (Rev. 13:15-16).
Now here is a deceived Church -- both herself deceived by, and
therefore used by the devil, and also deceiving the world.
Notice, this Church did not actually herself kill these martyrs --
she merely caused them to be killed. And she it was, too, who
CAUSES all under her domination to receive the dread MARK of the
beast.
The Brand of Rome
Notice carefully what the above text tells us:
1) "He," -- the Catholic Church that formed the Papacy and
originated human civil government modeled after that of the Roman
Empire.
2) "Causeth" all to receive this mark. It is the Church, not
the civil government, which forces this brand on people.
3) It is the same power which caused the martyrdom of
saints.
4) It brands on the people the mark of the "beast" -- that is,
the mark of the Roman Empire, not the mark of the Church.
5) This mark is received in the right hand, and in the
forehead.
So the MARK is that of the Roman Empire, which the Roman
CHURCH did cause or shall cause the western world to receive.
TWO Martyrdoms
Next notice when these saints were killed. This will show us
when the mark of the beast is enforced.
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and
for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud
voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not
judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
(Rev. 6:9-10).
Here we find pictured the martyrs of the Middle Ages already
dead, at the time of this vision -- which is the approximate
present. They know "Vengeance is MINE, saith the Eternal." They
know God's judgments against this persecuting, deceiving false
church, as described in Revelation 18, are to be the seven last
plagues, poured out "in the presence of the Lamb" at the second
coming of Christ. Read of it in Revelation 18. These dead saints
are pictured as crying out to ask "HOW LONG" before the Second
Coming of Christ and the seven last plagues which will avenge
their martyrdom. History tells us that in the Dark and Middle
Ages more than fifty MILLION were killed, many for their BIBLE
faith and obedience to God instead of obedience to this church
government of man and the devil. Notice now, what must again
happen before the seven last plagues and the coming of Christ!
"And white robes [symbolizing righteousness and purity] were
given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that
they should rest yet a little season, until their fellow servants
also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled" (Rev. 6:11).
Christ will not come to take vengeance on this great false
Church UNTIL another great martyrdom has taken place!
Note it! There was one martyrdom. Those saints are already
killed. Their resurrection will occur when Jesus returns to
earth -- WHEN His judgments are poured out on this false BABYLON
and her daughter churches! But there is yet to be another
universal persecution and martyrdom of saints, just prior to
Christ's coming in vengeance against the forces of evil! Here are
TWO universal martyrdoms!
This coming great martyrdom is THE GREAT TRIBULATION
(Matthew 24:9, 21-22). This tribulation is not the wrath of God --
the last plagues. It is the wrath of Satan (Rev. 12:12),
inflicted at the behest of HIS apostate Church by the coming
"United States of EUROPE" and against the true people of GOD! It
is a persecution -- a torturing -- a martyring of the saints of God --
the very elect who cannot be deceived (Matt. 24:24). Except those
days of Great Tribulation be shortened, no flesh would be saved.
But, for THE SAKE OF GOD'S PERSECUTED SAINTS those days shall be
shortened.
God shall intervene. Christ shall "come quickly."
The MARK Then, and Now
Now compare with these scriptures:
In Revelation 17, picturing this same Church as the woman
riding the beast, John writes: "And I saw the woman drunken with
the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus" (verse 6).
Also: Revelation 20:4 -- "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon
them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his
image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand
years."
Now we see WHY these many millions were, and shall be
martyred! It was because they refused to receive this mark of the
beast -- refused to join in this worship of church and Empire! They
obeyed God rather than man! Their lives were governed by God.
They were the children, the heirs, the future citizens, of His
KINGDOM, not the kingdoms of men. But -- note it well! -- they were,
as God commands, subject to the government of MAN. They did not
resist -- they yielded themselves subject to the penalty. They were
tortured -- they were killed! But they obeyed the government of God
rather than man where there was conflict. And, at Christ's coming
to rule the world as KING of kings, they shall all be lesser
priests and kings under Him and rule the world!
Do you see what this plainly reveals? Those martyrs, over a
thousand years ago, were killed BECAUSE they would not worship
the Church, conform to its idolatry and pagan beliefs and
customs, or worship the so-called "Holy Roman Empire," -- and
BECAUSE they refused to receive the MARK of the beast!
This means the MARK of the beast is something that was
forced on people, on pain of being killed, more than a thousand
years ago! The MARK of the beast was in full existence and
enforcement over a thousand years ago!
BUT, since it is those who have the mark of the beast who
shall suffer the seven last plagues at Christ's coming, the dread
mark is once again to be enforced! And those who refuse it are
those who shall be MARTYRED in the coming GREAT TRIBULATION!
Now we begin to find real light shed on this baffling
question!
Warning of Third Angel
Soon, now, the time is coming when gross spiritual darkness will
cover this earth -- when no human will be permitted to preach
Christ's true Gospel. We must work while it is day -- the night is
fast drawing on when no man can work, for God.
At that time God shall send angels with His final warning to
these apostate nations under sway of this great deceiving Church
as a final witness against them. Three such angel messages are
foretold in Revelation 14. Notice the final warning of the third
angel:
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
MARK in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God" -- the seven last plagues, full force,
unmixed with mercy! (Rev. 14:9-10).
This shows that although the MARK was branded on all but the
martyrs over a thousand years ago, it is STILL the brand of
traditional Christianity today, and is ONCE AGAIN to be enforced.
Once again those who refuse it shall be martyred. But those who
receive it shall suffer the wrath of God without mercy!
You must soon choose whom you will obey -- this coming Roman
Empire resurrected by a United States of EUROPE, ruled by
traditional Christianity -- or whether you shall OBEY GOD!
A Mark of Obedience
We begin now to see that the MARK of the beast involves a point
of OBEDIENCE -- whether we shall OBEY GOD, or reject the
commandment of God and obey MAN'S rule.
It has something to do, then, with the COMMANDMENT OF GOD!
Notice, there are, in general, two classes -- one has the
MARK, the other rejects it and is martyred. Notice now the
description of those who refuse this evil MARK:
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12).
There it is! In verses 9-11 of this chapter the third angel
warns that those who have the mark of the beast shall be punished
by the plagues of God. In the next verse, the 12th, the saints
who do not have the mark are those who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF
GOD. Those who have the mark, therefore, are those who refuse to
keep the Commandments of God. The MARK of the beast, therefore,
involves a rejection of the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, or of one of
them, for if we break one we are guilty of all (James 2:10).
So, one class of people accepts the MARK of the beast.
The other class keeps the Commandments of God.
A Mark of Disobedience
Hence, whatever the mark of the beast may be, it means
disobedience to GOD'S government -- to the Commandments of God.
Here's further proof -- here are they who get victory over
this mark:
Revelation 15:2-3: "And I saw as it were a sea of glass
mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the
beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number
of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song
of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God
Almighty; just and true are THY WAYS, thou King of saints."
This corresponds to the children of Israel, delivered from
Egyptian bondage under Moses. Moses was a type of Christ. Pharaoh
was the type and forerunner of this Beast. The plagues God poured
on Egypt were a type of the last plagues to be poured out on
Babylon. The children of Israel stood on the shore of the Red
Sea, and God miraculously delivered them. Here the saints of God
are pictured on this symbolic sea of glass.
They sing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb
(Christ). Moses pictures Law and God's Commandments, the Lamb
(Christ) pictures faith and salvation from sin.
Remember, the beast is the human civil organization of the
devil. In Revelation 12, we find Satan stirred to great wrath
"because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" (Rev. 12:12).
He then starts a great PERSECUTION, or TRIBULATION against the
TRUE Church -- the true saints of God. This is just prior to the
second coming of Christ (verse 10). Now notice against whom Satan
is so wroth:
"And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church],
and went to make war with the remnant [last generation] of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ [the Bible]" (verse 17).
There it is again! Those keeping God's COMMANDMENTS -- those
yielding themselves to God's RULE, and living by every Word of
God -- by the BIBLE -- which is the written testimony of Jesus
Christ -- they are the ones the devil will persecute and martyr
through his false Church and his reborn Empire!
But Satan knows his own. He will brand his own with a mark,
so they shall not receive this persecution and martyrdom, even as
God put a mark on sinning Cain lest men finding him slay him (see
Genesis 4:15). Those in the world who do not receive Satan's
brand -- the MARK of the BEAST will suffer Satan's wrath in the
Tribulation.
Thank God, those days shall be cut short, for the elect's
sake!
Class on Whom Plagues Fall
There are TWO classes of people. That class which receives the
MARK of the Beast is the class upon whom the PLAGUES OF GOD will
fall. So if we can further identify those who shall receive this
WRATH OF GOD, and why God will thus punish them, we shall further
identify what the mark is.
In Ephesians 5 Paul is telling Christians to flee
fornication, covetousness, idolatry -- transgressing the TEN
COMMANDMENTS. Then he says: "for because of these things,"
[transgressing God's LAW] "cometh the WRATH OF GOD [last plagues]
upon the children of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6).
How plain! The wrath of God -- the seven last plagues are
coming on those who DISOBEY God, by violating the Commandments.
The plagues fall upon those who have the mark of the beast!
Those who receive the plagues are breakers of God's
Commandments, and also at the same time receivers of the MARK! It
becomes more and more plain that the mark of the beast represents
COMMANDMENT-BREAKING.
Notice this again in Colossians 3:5-6: "Mortify therefore
your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which
is idolatry [transgressions of some of the Ten Commandments]: for
which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience."
Notice it also in the prophecies of the Old Testament: "The
great day of the Eternal [time of God's wrath -- the last plagues]
is near ... that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and
distress ... and I [God] will bring distress upon men, that they
shall walk like blind men [the plagues! But why?] because they
have sinned against the Eternal" (Zeph. 1:14-17). What is sin?
"Sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4) --
commandment breaking.
The TRUTH Becomes Plain
Now, let's recapitulate! The truth is becoming plain!
1) The "mark" plainly means the rejecting and breaking of
God's Commandments. And in James 2:10-11, God says if we break
only one of the Commandments, we are GUILTY of breaking the LAW --
guilty of all!
2) The Roman Empire is the real author of this "mark." It is
the mark of the BEAST, not the woman who rode the beast.
3) The Church caused people to be deceived into receiving
this mark.
4) Satan gave this Roman Empire its seat and great
authority -- it is the political instrument through which Satan
works, in deceiving the world.
5) Those who refuse this "mark" are prohibited from "buying
or selling, "engaging in commerce, trade, or holding a job.
6) Many of those refusing this "mark" were, and shall again
be, martyred because of their refusal -- because they keep the
Commandments of God!
7) Therefore, the inevitable and plain conclusion is that
the "mark" is something enforced by the Church, originating in
the paganism of the Roman Empire, which a cunning, deceiving
devil would seize on as a means of cleverly DECEIVING people into
breaking God's Ten Commandments. And it involves a direct
connection with holding a job -- engaging in business -- earning a
living.
Satan is clever -- cunning -- a deceiver. He palms off
counterfeits, which look like the genuine! Naturally he would
select the one Commandment of God which he can counterfeit with a
substitute -- one in which by human reason alone no man could see
where it would make any difference! He would select the one which
would seem of least importance to the carnal human mind!
He would not try to deceive men on idolatry, profanity, or
on stealing, lying, murder, adultery -- though he has led people
into all of these.
But WHAT Commandment could it be -- what Commandment affecting
a man's job, or his business?
There is only one possible Commandment -- the one regarded by
the largest number as the "LEAST" of the Commandments -- and that
is the fourth Commandment, which says: "REMEMBER the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy ... The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Eternal
thy God."
No carnal mind can see, without the special spiritual
revelation of God through His Word, where it makes any difference
WHICH day man observes.
WHERE DID SUNDAY ORIGINATE? Not with the Roman Catholic
Church, but with the pagan religion of the ROMAN EMPIRE! It is
the day on which the ancient pagans assembled at sunrise, faced
the east, (as they do Easter Sunday morning today) and worshipped
the rising SUN. It was Constantine, Emperor of the Roman Empire,
not a pope, who made SUNDAY the official so-called "Christian day
of rest." But it was enforced -- people were caused to accept it
universally -- by the CHURCH!
Why Saints Were Martyred
It was for obeying God's FOURTH Commandment -- keeping the Sabbath-
-that millions were put to death. The local Council of Laodicea,
in 363 A.D., passed this decree: "Christians must not Judaize by
resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, resting rather
on Sunday. But, if any be found to be Judaizing, let them be
declared anathema from Christ."
The church caused them to be killed. When the church branded
one "anathema" (a heretic), the state police of the Empire began
torturing him. Unless he recanted, he was tortured until he died!
Laws became so strict no man could hold a job, or engage in
business, unless he worked on Saturday and rested on Sunday. And
the world will be so geared that it will be almost impossible for
one to "buy or sell" except he receive this MARK OF THE BEAST!
This is the ONLY COMMANDMENT which was altered by the Roman
Empire! In Daniel 7:25 we read the prophecy of this "BEAST" and
the little horn (papacy) rising up, which was to think to CHANGE
"times and laws." That is, change God's LAW in respect to TIME
the time for the Sabbath!
What Is a Mark, Anyway?
Now what is a "mark"? In Bible usage it is virtually synonymous
with a "sign," and in one or two places used interchangeably.
There is merely this difference: A "mark" is a brand of
identification, forced on one. Cattle raisers put by force their
mark on their cattle -- their brand. A "sign" is also a badge of
IDENTITY, but one voluntarily accepted and used. A druggist hangs
a sign in front of his store. It may say, "JONES & CO., DRUGS."
It identifies. It tells what kind of store, and who owns it.
Now the "beast," in association with the Church, used FORCE
to brand the western world with their MARK. Those who obeyed God
and kept His Sabbath were martyred. They were unable to "buy or
sell." But God does not force anyone. God lets us make our own
decision about obeying Him, accepting Christ, and becoming His
obedient children.
But is the Sabbath God's SIGN that we are Christians,
belonging to HIM?
God's SIGN
Yes, indeed!
It was after God had made, and ratified, the Covenant with
Israel. That Old Covenant, of course, was for limited duration
and is now replaced with the New. But any covenant made after it
had been made and ratified by blood was no part of that Old
Covenant.
It was forty days after that ratification, that God made a
new, separate, different Covenant between Himself and all who
should be His people, to last forever. This was no temporary
covenant, but for all generations, FOREVER.
It is found in Exodus 31:12-17:
"And the Eternal spake unto Moses, saying, Verily MY
SABBATHS ye shall keep; for it is a SIGN between me and you
throughout your generations." These generations of Israel (see
our free booklet, "United States and Britain in Prophecy,") are
still going on! Now WHY is it a sign? Does it IDENTIFY God to us?
Does it identify us as HIS? "... that ye may know that I am the
Eternal that doth sanctify you."
Get the powerful meaning of those words!
It is a SIGN, that we may KNOW that the Eternal is the true
God. It identifies who God is. How? Notice verse 17: "It is a
SIGN ... for in six days the Eternal made heaven and earth, and on
the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." It is the memorial
of God's rest from CREATION. Always, in all parts of the Bible,
God identifies Himself as CREATOR. How can we distinguish who is
the TRUE God, from all the false gods?
The true God created all the false gods, and that from which
they are made, and everything that is. Some worshipped the sun.
But the Eternal, the true God, created the sun, and rules it.
Some worship idols carved out of stone, or wood, or marble. But
the true God created that from which they were made, and even the
human beings who made them. The Sabbath is GOD'S Sabbath, not the
Jewish Sabbath. Never does the Bible call it the "Jewish
Sabbath." It identifies GOD as the CREATOR.
The Sabbath was made FOR MAN. So said Jesus (Mark 2:27). It
was made WHEN man was made (Genesis 2:1-3). It was MADE -- and it
was Christ, the Eternal, who made it! Therefore HE is Lord of the
Sabbath! It was made to keep man in the true knowledge of the
IDENTITY of the true God, to keep him from idolatry! And history
proves that every nation that did NOT keep God's Sabbath
worshipped false gods, and did not know who the true God was!
When Israel quit keeping God's Sabbath, they went into idolatry
(Ezek. 20:5, 11-13, 17-21).
It was for SABBATH-BREAKING GOD SENT BOTH ISRAEL AND JUDAH
INTO SLAVERY!
But back to Exodus 31:17-18. It also is the SIGN by which we
are identified as belonging to GOD. We BELONG to whom we obey -- so
we read in Romans! It is the sign by which we know He is the
ETERNAL ... "that doth sanctify YOU." To sanctify is to set apart
for spiritual use. The SABBATH sets one apart from the world, and
always did -- as OBEYING and belonging to GOD. Can you think of ANY
REASON why anyone would EVER keep the Sabbath, except to OBEY
GOD? Would any man defy human custom and invite persecution, and
be set apart as different, through human reason? Could any
atheist be a Sabbath keeper? THE SABBATH IDENTIFIES GOD'S PEOPLE!
God's people, we have seen above, are identified as they who
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. The world acknowledges all the other nine
Commandments. The only one the world rejects is the fourth. The
only one that sets one apart from the world -- that IDENTIFIES one
as belonging to GOD -- that is a SIGN of God -- is the SABBATH.
Notice, verse 16, it is a "PERPETUAL COVENANT." It is a
covenant! It is no part of the Old Covenant -- no part of the law
of Moses! It was made with Israel after all these, and is a
separate, and perpetual COVENANT.
Notice verse 17: "It is a SIGN between me and the children
of Israel FOREVER. There it is! It is a COVENANT. It is FOREVER!
When given to physical, flesh-born Israel, this covenant
punished by death any breaking of the SIGN. Today, since the
administration of the death penalty by the Levites and judges is
not being done (II Cor. 3:7-8), and since all believers, in all
nations, whether Israelite or Gentile are grafted into spiritual
Israel (Romans 11:24), the willful refusal to keep this sign is
punishable by death -- the second death.
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or
three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall
he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God ...?" (Heb. 10:28-29).
On Right Hand and in Forehead
God says the penalty for SIN is DEATH! Sin is the transgression
of the Law. If we break only this one Commandment, we are guilty.
The penalty is DEATH!
The Roman Church caused people to receive the MARK of pagan
ROME -- the Sunday observed by the pagan Roman Empire -- and the
penalty for disobedience was DEATH! Fifty million or more were
put to death -- so says history.
It is the ONLY Commandment the world will not accept in its
MIND (forehead) and OBEY (by work, or rest, with the HAND). It is
the ONLY commandment that can distinguish between those who have
the MARK of the BEAST, or the SIGN OF GOD.
Now the book of Revelation is written mostly in symbols. The
right hand symbolizes work, or labor -- the forehead, the
intellect, or mind. It has to do with what we BELIEVE, in the
mind, and whether we OBEY, with the hand.
How ABOUT GOD'S SIGN? It also was received in the forehead,
and the hand!
Regarding one of God's annual Sabbaths, we read: "... it
shall be for a SIGN unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial
between thine eyes [forehead], that the Eternal's LAW may be in
thy mouth" (Ex. 13:9).
Deuteronomy 6:1, 6-8: "Now these are the COMMANDMENTS ... and
these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart ... and thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and
they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes."
Deuteronomy 11:18: "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words
in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a SIGN upon
your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes."
Also see Proverbs 7:2-3, and Revelation 7:3-4; 14:1.
There is absolute proof. Yes, the truth is very plain!
The Sabbath is God's SIGN, standing, more than any
commandment, for OBEDIENCE. It was symbolically in the HAND and
in the FOREHEAD, just as the MARK of the BEAST -- the pagan SUNDAY-
-was in the right HAND and in the FOREHEAD!
SUNDAY observance -- Christmas, New Year's, Easter, etc. -- this
is the MARK of the BEAST!
The Church did cause all under the "Holy Roman Empire" to
receive this "mark," during the middle ages. Has she stopped?
Just at present she has not the POWER to enforce this mark
on everyone. But there will be a United States of EUROPE -- a union
of ten nations. It will be a UNION of Church and State -- and the
Church once again will sit astride "The BEAST."
Now notice Daniel 7:21, 22: "I beheld, and the same horn
[papacy] made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
until the Ancient of days came [Second Coming of Christ] and
judgment was given to the saints of the most High."
Yes, the MARK OF THE BEAST once again will be enforced! No
one will be able to hold a job or engage in business without it.
Those refusing will once again be tortured and martyred -- probably
by the secret police of the political state -- but at the behest of
the Church!
Today, ALL NATIONS are deceived by this paganism
masquerading under the name "Christianity."
Today, America, Canada, Britain -- Israelitish nations -- are
actually in the ways of this "BABYLON."
God's last warning is this: "COME OUT of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of
HER PLAGUES!"
IF you are branded by this MARK, rejecting the SIGN of God
in your forehead and hand, you shall be tortured by God's plagues
without mercy! Yes, You!
But if you OBEY God, -- if you are watching, praying without
ceasing, you shall be accounted worthy to ESCAPE -- and come under
GOD'S PROTECTION (Luke 21:36). .