WARNING

IGNORE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

This next message is of a highly sensitive nature. Please have your Bible, so that you can see the evidence presented for yourself. If you have not read the previous messages, then please proceed no further! These messages MUST be read in sequence! We have tried to make this a concise study as much as possible. However, if you need further clarification on any issues, then please email us.

THE TWO MARKS

Did you know that the mark of the beast is not the only mark recorded in Revelation? There are actually two marks, and your destiny hinges upon which mark you receive. There is so much said about the mark of the beast, but the more important of the two marks is God’s mark—the seal of the Living God. Do you know the difference between these two marks?

Just a few years outside of the Garden of Eden, a mark is placed upon disobedient Cain. This was not God’s mark, marking one of His faithful and true children, but this was the mark of a murderer. It was a mark of transgression against God’s law. The idea of a mark is not something new to the book of Revelation; it starts in Genesis and continues throughout the entire Bible.

A mark upon both the righteous and the wicked and the fate of each is clearly portrayed in the story of the exodus from Egypt. This account of the children of Israel being delivered from Egypt is the very story that the latter scenes of Revelation are based upon. There are the two groups of people—those who were following and obeying God and those who were following the customs and traditions of men. The children of Israel had a sign or mark of deliverance upon their houses, so that the angel of death would pass by;

It was a mark of death. Why did they have this mark of death? It was because they did not receive God’s mark of deliverance. All who refuse or neglect God’s mark of protection will receive the mark of death as the Egyptians did. It was not that the Egyptians did not know. They knew! Moses and Aaron had faithfully warned Pharaoh and the news had trickled down to the ear of the lowliest servant. There were even those who had joined the Israelites and had been preserved, and these individuals became a part of the “mixed multitude.” Exodus 12:38. There were two marks then, and there are two marks now!

As marks are a symbol that is used throughout the Scriptures, it becomes the climax and the focal point of the book of Revelation. Just as in the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt there were two marks, so in the final deliverance of God’s people from this wicked world there will be two distinct marks. There will be the mark of disobedience that the Egyptians had, and there will be the mark of deliverance that God’s true people will have;

Do you know which one you will have? Do you know how you can be certain to have God’s mark and not the beast’s mark? The only way that you will be able to know the answers to these most important questions is through the Word of God. What does the Bible say about this life and death question, the two marks?

There have always been two marks in the Word of God—a mark upon the righteous and a mark upon the disobedient. The concept of two marks goes all the way back to Cain and Abel. When Cain became angry and slew Abel, the Lord put a mark upon him. This mark was not a desirable mark, but it was still a mark that was put upon rebellious Cain;

“And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. “ Genesis 4:15.

“For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. ” Exodus 12:23.

Thus it was for the people of God. For those who followed and obeyed the directions of the Lord, they were preserved from the destroying angel. But it was only those who had God’s mark of deliverance that were saved. If there were any of the children of Israel who did not have God’s mark, they were not protected, but rather their firstborn perished with the disobedient. The Egyptians also had a mark, but this mark did not save them, it marked their destruction;

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. ” Exodus 12:29.

The same mark of disobedience that both Cain and the Egyptians received, in the last days is called “the mark of the beast,” and the results will be the same as in Egypt. In Egypt, it was death to the firstborn, in the last scenes of this earth’s history it will be death to all who receive this dreadful mark! The mark of the beast is not the only mark; there is the seal of the living God;

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:2, 3.

Those who receive the mark of the beast receive the most awful judgments ever threatened upon mankind, but those who have the seal of the living God are miraculously preserved from the terrible judgments that devastate this world;

“And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. .” Revelation 9:4.

If you did not understand the difference between God’s seal of protection and the devil’s mark of destruction during the plagues of Egypt, you would have received the mark of destruction and been lost. So today, if we do not understand this most important topic of the two marks, we will inevitably be lost. The world is going to be brought to a choice just as the country of Egypt was brought to a choice. Who will you serve? Then only the country of Egypt was affected, but today it will be the whole world. (See Revelation 13:3.) Everyone will be brought to a choice—which mark will you receive? There are only two; it will be one or the other.

GOD’S MARK

It is important to note that marks are usually symbolic;

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” Psalm 37:37.

The Lord had given direction to mark the perfect man. This mark was not a literal brand that he received, but a mark of character. Marks are usually symbolic, and this is certainly true with God’s mark. It is a mark of character, a mark of the heart. The Lord looks deeper than man does. Man is always looking to externals, but God does not look at the external appearances, God’s eyes pierce into the very depths and intents of the heart and soul;

“And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” Ezekiel 9:4.

The Lord commands one of the angels to put a mark upon the men who are sighing and crying for the abominations. This mark is put on by an angel, not by a man. This mark is read by angels, not by men. This mark is marking “the perfect man.” It is a mark of character; not a literal brand burned into the forehead. God’s mark of deliverance is a symbolic mark.

“Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway …. Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it … And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul … 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.” Deuteronomy 11:1, 8, 13, 18.

The Lord says exactly what His sign or mark is. It is obedience to God’s Ten Commandments. Clearly not a literal mark, but a mark of character. Just like David said, “mark the perfect man” Psalm 37:37. So he also says;

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ” Psalm 19:7.

James also agrees calling the Ten Commandments, “the perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25; 2:11. In order to be marked as a perfect man, you must be keeping that perfect Law of liberty, or the Ten Commandments! It is obedience to this Holy Law that is a sign on our hands and upon our foreheads that we are God’s people. God looks deeper than mere external ornaments; He looks into the heart to see if a person is living in obedience to the Holy Ten-Commandment Law. If an individual is obeying the Law of liberty, God knows that He can trust him, and so He puts his mark or seal upon him;

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. ” Exodus 13:9.

Even in the children of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, they knew that the mark of deliverance was obedience to God’s Ten-Commandment Law.

God’s mark of deliverance is obedience to His Law. It is a sign upon the hand and on the forehead. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day took this completely literal. They tied portions of the Law around their head and on their hands so that they would have that actual sign, but Jesus rebuked them for relying upon the external requirements and not allowing the real meaning to occur;

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity[lawlessness].” Matthew 23:27, 28.

Jesus sternly rebuked those who fulfilled the letter of the Law, but not the spirit. They hung God’s mark on the outside, but inside they were not keeping it. Jesus said that even though they hung these portions of the Law upon them, they were Lawless. Simply hanging the sign on the outside is not God’s true mark. God’s true mark is having His Law in our forehead and in our hand. The forehead is where our thought process occurs. God wants His Law, not on the outside, but inside our forehead. He wants His Law in our thoughts and in our minds;

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly … But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night .” Psalm 1:1, 2.

Those who have God’s mark in their foreheads are the ones who think upon God’s Law. By having God’s mark on the hand is represented actually doing God’s Law. With our hands we work and do all of our actions;

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,” Ecclesiastes 9:10.

So those who not just think about the Law, but who do it, are the ones who receive God’s true mark of deliverance;

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. ” Revelation 22:14.

Those who think and meditate upon God’s Law with their minds and who do His Commandments with their hands have God’s mark of deliverance.

Obedience to God’s Holy Law is what has continually distinguished between the children of God and the children of this world. With Cain and Abel this difference is seen, and prophecy teaches that it will be the distinguishing mark in the future, as well. Abel obeyed the Lord by following His directions, while Cain did what he wanted and not what God had said. As a result of Cain’s disobedience, the Lord said;

“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. .” Genesis 4:7.

Cain disobeyed and his children followed his Lawless example. Thus, there were the descendants of Cain and the descendants of Seth, those who disobeyed and those who obeyed. The distinguishing mark continues through Abraham’s time;

“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Genesis 26:5.

Abraham obeyed God’s Commandments and was honored for His obedience. Through all time, obedience to God’s Law has been the mark that divides God’s true people from His disloyal subjects. Especially in our time, at the close of this earth’s history, God’s Law becomes a distinguishing mark;

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. .” Revelation 12:17.

The very last remnant of God’s people is described again as obedient to the Commandments. Clear to the close of time this mark of obedience is in effect. Obedience to God’s Commandments is a line of demarcation distinguishing between those who are truly following Jesus and those who are not. Gods Holy Law has not been done away with! [ As discussed in Message to the Churches part II]

GOD’S SIGN OR SEAL

Obedience to God’s Holy Law is what has marked God’s people from the very beginning, but there is a special part of God’s Law that is designated as His special sign or seal of obedience. It is this seal that God’s last day people receive;

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel:” Revelation 7:1-4.

The children of Israel represent God’s faithful people in the last days just as they have represented God’s faithful people from the beginning of time. (Romans 2:28, 29; Galatians 3:7, 9, 14, 26-29; Ephesians 2:12-16; James 1:1) Simply stated, the one hundred and forty-four thousand are God’s faithful people at the end of time. They receive the seal of the living God in their foreheads. While obedience to the Commandments is the mark that distinguishes God’s faithful people, what is the special seal? The Bible does say that there is a seal within the Ten Commandments;

“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isaiah 8:16.

A seal was something that was very common to all of the Biblical writers, for it was something that was repeatedly used in ancient times. In order for a king to make a Law, he would have the Law written and then put his seal upon the Law so that all would know that he had indeed signed it into Law. It was like putting his signature or fingerprint upon it. When his subjects saw the seal, all knew that they had to obey it and that it was an authentic seal. Frequently this seal was a signet ring or a cylinder;

“As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence ;” Jeremiah 22:24.

In order to be an authentic seal, it needed to have three essential elements—name, title and dominion. An example of a seal is found in Daniel 4:1;

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth:”

Nebuchadnezzar is writing an official decree to his subjects and he begins it with his seal. It has his name—“Nebuchadnezzar.” It contains his title—“the king.” It has his dominion—“all people, nations, and languages.” Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the entire world. Thus when people read the official document they would see Nebuchadnezzar’s seal containing his name, title and dominion. They would know that this was something that they needed to heed. Another example of a seal is given in Ezra 7:12, 13, 21;

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.…. And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily .”

Once again the three essential elements to a seal are seen—Artaxerxes, “king of kings”, and “people of Israel” and “all the treasurers which are beyond the River”. This was a specialized Law that only applied to the children of Israel and to those beyond the river, but it shows again the three essential parts to any seal—the name, title, and dominion.

God as the true king and ruler of this world also has a seal.

This seal can be seen several places in the Bible, so that we can know that God has put His official seal upon His Holy Word. The first place that this seal appears is the very first verse in the Bible;

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

Notice that there are the three essential elements in this verse. The Lord’s name—“God.” His title—“created.” He is the creator and that is why He has the right to give us a Book of Directions, the Bible. His dominion—“heaven and the earth.” In the very first verse in the Bible, God stamps His seal upon it, by giving His name, title and dominion. The very first verse of the Bible contains the seal of God, showing that the entire Bible is His Word to us. God’s seal is also in the last book of the Bible;

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6, 7.

God records the last worldwide messages that are to go to the entire world, and in the midst of it He stamps His seal. His name—“God”. His title—‘Creator’, for He made heaven and earth, and the sea. His dominion—“heaven and earth and the sea”. This last message that is to go to all the world bears God’s stamp and seal showing that it is His message.

“Seal the law among my disciples.” Isaiah 8:16.

There are several places where God’s seal is seen, but the focal point must be in the Law, for His Law must be sealed. While the entire Bible is God’s Book, the Law is the most official document ever given and to be valid must contain His seal. If the seal was broken or missing on an earthly king’s Law, it was known that the Law did not need to be honored, for it was a counterfeit. So if the seal is taken out of God’s Law then the entire Law becomes void. What is the seal in the Law, the Ten Commandments? Well, here it is:-

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11.

There is only ONE Commandment in the entire Law that contains the essential elements to a seal. It is the Sabbath Commandment. In this Commandment, is found the Lord’s name—“the Lord your God”, the Lord’s title—the Creator, for “he made heaven and earth, the earth, and all that in them is” & His dominion—“the heavens and the earth and the sea”. The 4th Commandment is the only Commandment that contains God’s seal. It is the 4th Commandment that binds up the testimony and seals the Law. (See Isaiah 8:16.)

The seventh day Sabbath is the seal of the Living God!

“And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. ” Ezekiel 20:20.

The Lord has said that the Sabbath is the sign between God and His people. It is the sign that clearly distinguishes them from the world, but more than this is meant by this verse. Sign and seal are synonymous terms is the Scriptures. The very fact that the seal was frequently applied with a signet (signing) ring testifies to this fact. There is a verse showing this without a doubt;

“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised ,” Romans 4:11.

The sign of circumcision was the seal of righteousness by faith. Sign and seal are used interchangeably. Thus, when the Lord says that the Sabbath is a sign, He is saying that the Sabbath is His seal;

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign [seal] between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you……It is a sign [seal] between me and the children of Israel [God’s people throughout all time, Hebrews 4:9] for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:13, 17

“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign [seal] between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Ezekiel 20:12.

The seventh day Sabbath is the seal of the Living God!

THE BEAST’S MARK

The devil attempts to counterfeit everything that God has done.

There are numerous examples of this and many pages could be written on this topic; but it is sufficient to say that the devil is “a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44. He is the biggest copycat the world has ever known, and he has counterfeited God’s true mark, as well. He has set up a mark that is as close to the true as possible, but is just far enough off to deceive millions into being lost;

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:9-12.

The devil’s mark is referred to throughout the book of Revelation as the “mark of the beast.” As we have previously noted, God’s mark is a mark of character and not a literal brand. It only makes sense that the mark of the beast would be the same;

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. ” 1st Samuel 16:7.

Man always looks to the outside. The nicest house, the nicest car, the nicest clothes, but forgets the inward adornment of the heart. It is the same way with the mark of the beast. Man thinks of a brand, a computer chip, a credit card, but these are outward appearances. God does not look at the outward appearance. God’s mark is not an outward sign or seal; it is a decision of the heart and mind. Since the devil has counterfeited God’s mark, he has not counterfeited it as an outward sign, but as a decision of the heart. (The devil may use some of these outward signs, but it is not the Biblical mark of the beast.)

So what is the beast’s mark? The Bible zeros in and pinpoints the Commandment that those who receive the mark of the beast are breaking;

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25.

There are over ten points in this chapter alone that conclusively identify who this power is, but the most blasphemous of all is that he intends to change “times and laws.” This power exalts himself so much above God that he intentionally claims to change God’s Holy Law. Of course, he could not really change God’s Law for the Bible says, “I am the Lord, I change not;” Malachi 3:6. God’s Law cannot really be changed for it is a transcript of God’s very own character, and He does not change. Jesus said;

“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail .” Luke 16:17.

It would be more likely that both heaven and earth would melt away than for the smallest part of God’s Law to be done away with, but this is exactly what this bold and blasphemous Little Horn does. He is indeed a lawless power.

Prophecy states that this power will intentionally change times and Laws. We know that this beast power indeed changed “times,” such as the early Christian/Jewish feast days. This beast power also changed how we are to usher in a new day, by observing 12’O clock midnight, contrary to what the Bible regards as a new day which is from sunset-to-sunset;

“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5.

Concerning the “Laws” this beast power has indeed changed & trampled on Gods eternal Ten Commandment Laws, by deleting the 2nd Commandment against “worshipping idols”, the 4th Commandment about the “Sabbath” & split in two the 10th Commandment about “coveteousness.” History has all proven this.

However, there is only one commandment in the Ten Commandments that deals with ‘Time’ & is also a ‘Law’. That one commandment is the 4th Commandment, the Sabbath Commandment. It specifically states which day is the Sabbath, the Seventh Day. You can search every word in all other nine Commandments and not find another word mentioning time. The only commandment that could possibly fit the description of ‘Times and Law’ is the Sabbath Commandment.

Have you ever wondered why the Christian World is worshipping on Sunday, the first day of the week, when the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, is the day mentioned in the Bible? It seems strange doesn’t it? Why would the Christian World be going directly contrary to God’s Ten Commandment Law? The answer is because some power has attempted to tamper with God’s Holy Law. This power claims that it was the one responsible for this most blasphemous act of attempting to change God’s Law. Here are some comments that this beast power has made with reference to changing the Sabbath commandment:

“Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?

Answer: Had she not had such power she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority.” An Abridgement of Christian Doctrine, 58.

Ages ago, the early church leaders thought that it would be advantageous to the growth of the church to mix some pagan ideas with Christianity. The supposed change of the Sabbath is one of the reminders of that great apostasy.

“The sun was a foremost god with heathendom… hence the church… would seem to have said, ‘Keep that old pagan name. It shall remain consecrated, sanctified,’ and thus, the pagan Sunday, dedicated to Balder, became the Christian Sunday, sacred to Jesus.” The Catholic World (March 1984), 809.

Sunday came straight from paganism and is a blatant violation of God’s Law. Nowhere in the Bible does it call the first day of the week a day of worship, assembly or any such thing. It is totally based upon the authority of the beast power that this change was instituted. Not only did this power do just what prophecy predicted, but it also claims this change in God’s Law as the mark of its authority, just as prophecy predicted as well.

“Sunday is our mark of authority… The church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of this fact.” Catholic Record, September 1, 1923.

The Bible clearly teaches that lawlessness is the identifying mark of the beast, and then it goes even further to state that it is violation of the 4th Commandment that is its specific mark.

Then the power that presumptuously attempted to change God’s Law claims this change as the mark of its authority as well. Surely the Bible and history both testify that exalting Sunday above the Sabbath is the mark of the beast!;

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3.

Nineteen hundred years ago, the Lord told us through prophecy that the entire world would worship the beast, and sure enough, that is exactly what is happening.

“The Bible says, ‘Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.’ The Catholic Church says, “No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And, lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church.”

Priest Thomas Enright, CSSR, President of Redemptorist College, Kansas City, MO, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas, February 22, 1884.

Twenty-five hundred years ago prophecy foretold that a power that would arise and attempt to change the part of God’s law dealing with time, and it has happened exactly as God’s Word predicted. Not only does the Word of God teach that this power was going to change the Sabbath Commandment, but it also pinpoints this as the mark of the beast! Then this power comes along, changes the Sabbath Commandment from the seventh day to the first day, and claims that this is the specific mark of their authority! This power itself testifies that honouring the first day of the week above the seventh day of the week is the mark of the beast! God’s Word and history are too plain to be misunderstood. The mark of the beast is breaking the Sabbath and keeping Sunday when it is enforced by law to do so;

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads,” Revelation 13:16.

When this decree is given, all of the world will be brought to the decision of whom they will serve. When a person, knowing that there is absolutely no scriptural authority for keeping the first day, goes along with this decree to keep holy the first day of the week and break the Sabbath, he has chosen to follow and obey the beast above the God of heaven. He has rejected the seal of God (Sabbathkeeping) and has made the choice to receive the mark of the beast. These scenes are just around the corner.

There are three basic descriptions of the beast power. They are found in Revelation 13, II Thessalonians 2, and Daniel 7. A different aspect of this power is given in each of these passages, but they are similar enough to know that it is the same power that is being described. There is one mark that is continuous through all three. It is the most blasphemous and presumptuous mark of all. This continuous thread is that the beast power is ‘lawless’;

Under the symbol of the little horn, the beast power is described. Notice that in Revelation this power is guilty of breaking the 1st Commandment;

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ” Revelation 13:4.

The beast is worshipped as God; thus, breaking not only the first, but the 2nd Commandment as well. He puts himself in the place of God and sets himself up as an idol to be worshipped. His ruthless violation of God’s Law does not stop here, though;

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Revelation 13:6, 7.

He breaks the 3rd Commandment by blaspheming God’s name and is guilty of breaking the 6th Commandment by making war with God’s true people. Truly this is a “lawless” power. The mark of the beast is most clearly described by Paul;

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition … For the mystery of iniquity [Lawlessness] doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked [Lawlessness] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him[ The Lawless one], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” II Thessalonians. 2:3, 7-9.

Three times in this passage the beast power is referred to as the Lawless one. The beast not only breaks the Law himself, but he intentionally changes God’s Law and leads others to break God’s Holy Law. He is called the “man of sin.”;

“Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1st John 3:4.

He is the man of Lawlessness. Wherever the beast is described his specific mark is breaking God’s law. Throughout scripture the mark of the beast is disobedience to God’s Holy Law.

Prophecy has predicted that almost the entire world would bow down and worship the beast in the last days;

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3.

But God’s people will stand up against the prevailing tide of Lawlessness just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did twenty-five hundred years ago. They will;

“call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: .” Isaiah 58:13.

Although the entire world is breaking the Sabbath by worshipping on the first day of the week (Sunday) instead of the seventh day of the week (Saturday), they will hold fast to;

“the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

These people will be keeping not only the Sabbath Commandment, but ALL the rest of the Ten Commandments as well.

Please mark this with care: In the book of Revelation it is clear that those who ‘receive’ the “mark of the beast” will be lost forever! Now the Bible says only ONE thing about those who DO NOT receive the mark of the beast. Here it is;

“Here are the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

So if those who DO NOT receive the mark “keep the commandments of God,” then the opposite is also true! Those who RECEIVE the mark of the beast are violating Gods Commandments. There are no other possibilities!

Those who receive the mark of the beast are those who have broken the Commandments;

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.[Lawlessness!]’” Matthew 7:21-23.

Jesus here describes those who are deceived into following the beast power. They think that they are saved. They have done all of these miraculous signs, but they are still lost. Why? Because they knowingly followed the Lawless beast power. They have broken God’s Law, thinking that it was unimportant and done away with, and now when they come face to face with their Maker; they realize too late that they have received the mark of the beast and are lost. The mark of the beast is much more deceptive than what many people think. It is simply breaking God’s Law.

Notice the changes in the Commandments of God, from the Bible version to the Catholic Version below:

CONCLUSION

It may seem like such a minute point. Someone may think, “It is only a day.” Yes, it is only a day, but it’s the decision behind the day. Eve convinced herself that it was only a tree and it wouldn’t really matter if she ate of the forbidden fruit. “After all,” she may have thought, “it is just like any other tree. There are thousands of trees, surely this one is no different from any of the others. God is not that particular. God loves me.” The tree of knowledge of good and evil was just like all the other trees and it was only a tree, but it was the choice behind the tree. Eve chose to disbelieve God and believe the serpent. Eve obeyed the serpent instead of God, and paradise was lost. It is the same way with the Sabbath day. Oh, it may seem like such a mute point. It may not seem that important, but it is the difference between serving God or the beast. God says to keep holy the seventh day; the beast says to keep the first day. Who are you going to serve? Who are you going to love? Who are you going to obey?

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

If we obey the beast’s laws we become his slaves, but if we obey the laws of our loving God we become his servants. Whose servant will you be?

QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE SABBATH

ISN’T THE SABBATH FOR THE JEWS?

Some may argue, “isn’t the Sabbath for the Jews?” This falsehood has gained such strength that multitudes of Christians refer to it as the “Jewish Sabbath”. But nowhere do we find such expression in the Bible. It is called “the Sabbath of the Lord,” in Exodus 20:10, but never “the Sabbath of the Jews.”

*Christ clearly taught that “the Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27. Meaning for mankind! For everyone! The Sabbath was created at the beginning in Genesis 2:2-3. There were no Jews and no Jewish nation in the World for at least 2,000 years after creation. Many do not understand that if we are Christ’s then we are spiritual Jews and the Israel of God. The Bible tells us, who are now the real Jews.

In Romans 2:28-29 it tells us;

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

In Galatians 3:29 this is further amplified;

“If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed…”

Some Christians quote the following words to prove that the Sabbath was given as a sign between God and Israel only, but not for the gentiles (non-jews). This is the verse which they usually quote to defend their mis-guided idea;

“Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you……15 Six days may work be done; but in the Seventh is the Sabbath of rest, Holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:13-17

Firstly, notice that God called the Sabbath – “my Sabbaths,” not “Israelites Sabbaths.” Secondly, God said, the Sabbath will endure [when?] – “forever.[perpetual covenant]” And thirdly, Gods reason for giving the Sabbath goes back to creation week, “for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth” , long before Israel ever existed. Thus the Sabbath day is Gods day & not a Jewish one. God also called the Sabbath a “sign” in those very same verses. So, what does it mean that the Sabbath is a sign? Looking at verse 13 again it reads; “Verily my Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you.” This verse explains that the Sabbath is a special “sign” that He is our God, that “sanctifies” us. It also defines that it is God that we worship, love and give our allegiance to.

The questions Christians need to ask themselves are; is there anyone who does not want to be part of this sign? If they reject His Sabbath, then aren’t they also rejecting God as their Father? And since the Sabbath is a “sign” that God sanctifies us, if they reject His Sabbath, then are they not also rejecting His sanctification?

In the book of Isaiah God makes it absolutely clear that the Sabbath was made for “everyone.” It reads;

Blessed is the man…that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it….Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…..for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:2,6 & 7.

You see, for Christians to state that the Sabbath Day was made only for the Jews is a tragic, tragic mistake.

CAN THE TRUE SEVENTH-DAY BE LOCATED?

Many people have found comfort in believing that we cannot find the true seventh day Sabbath. It has comforted millions of Christians in the continued disobedience of the 4th Commandment.

Today, many modern calendars do indeed show that ‘Sun-day’ as the seventh day. But in reality, this is not so. This should come as no surprise to us, because the Bible has warned us that this beast power would “think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25.

Despite all this, God has still preserved His Holy Day. All we need to do is to look into the scriptures. Many people celebrate Easter every year. Easter is a good example to show anyone, without question, that Saturday is the original seventh-day Sabbath. Here is the Bible evidence:

“This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

Now comes the next crucial verses in chapter 24 verse 1

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.” Luke 24:1-2

How clearly these three consecutive days are described for us, over the Easter period:

He died “Friday”[preparation day – Luke 23:52-54] – commonly called; “Good Friday.”

He then rested “in the tomb” [Over the Sabbath Day – Luke 23:55-56] – This day, as we know, is commonly called; “Saturday.”

Then; on “the first day of the week” Jesus rose from the dead [resurrection day – Luke 24:1-2] – This day is called; “Easter Sunday” to many.

Anyone who can locate “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunday” can locate the “Seventh Day Sabbath.”

We hope that what you have read in these “Message to the Churches” articles, would have resonated with your heart in some way to see what God requires from us all. The Gospel, is not just about “believing in Jesus”, but becoming like Him each and every day. Please do your own studies and see what God requires.

In Hebrews 5:9 it clearly states the following;

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”

WARNING

IGNORE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

CONCLUSION

THE MARK OF THE BEAST OVERVIEW

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