beast’s mark

Editorial – Two Key Texts for Our Time

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There are certain texts in the Bible that have special meaning for a certain time. For example, in the time of the apostle Paul, a key text for the first century Christians to understand was that the righteous man shall live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:16, 17.) A key text that was present truth during the days of John Wesley was that without holiness no man will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14.) A key text in 1844 was, “Behold the bridegroom comes; go out to meet Him.” Matthew 25:6.

Two key texts for the last generation living since 1798 are Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12. These two texts point out the chief characteristics of God’s chosen people in the last days of earth’s history. The first one describes God’s people as the remnant, or last of the descendants of the woman; in other words, God’s elect people in the last days, His final movement or church. (Genesis 3:15 distinguishes between the children of God as descendants of the woman, in contrast to the children of the devil who are the descendants of the serpent. They are described as those who: keep the commandments. This means they would have to be Sabbath keepers because if you break one you have broken all. (James 2:8-12.); they have the testimony of Jesus and that is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10.) In other words, the spirit of prophecy has been manifested in their midst.

Revelation 14:12 describes again God’s holy people (saints) in the last days, in contrast to those who worship the beast and his image and receive the beast’s mark in their forehead or in their hand. The faith of Jesus is that religious faith by which a person lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. A person is enabled to have this faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. (See John 14–16 and Romans 8.)

It is stated immediately after the warning of receiving the beast’s mark or worshiping his image, that the holy people of God keep His commandments. This directly implies that the receiving of the beast’s mark, or worshiping his image, involves the breaking of God’s commandments.

The Three Angels’ Messages are the focal point of the latter half of the book of Revelation which describes the very last epochal events in our world. Revelation 14:12 is a key text that everybody who desires to be saved at the end should especially study.

Lesson 16 – The Mark of the Beast

The Beast's MarkIntroduction: The Bible tells of a mark, or sign, that will identify the Beast and his followers. By receiving this mark one gives allegiance to the Beast, and acknowledges His authority to be greater than God’s! In this lesson we will identify that mark.

1. What sign, or mark, reveals allegiance to God? Deut. 11:1, 8, 18 [Note: The outward observance of God’s commandments is a “sign on your hand,” and believing them is as “frontlets between your eyes.” This is GOD’S symbolic mark in the forehead and in the hand. The Further-study verses are Duet. 6:6, 8; Ex. 13:9.]

2. People look at outward marks, but where does God look? 1 Sam. 16:7b [Ps. 37:37; Eze. 9:4]

3. Everyone will one day receive a mark. What mark will God’s people receive? Rev. 14:1 [Rev. 7:2-4]

4. Anciently a name represented one’s character. God wants to write His name-or character-in us. God’s character is described in His law. Where will God’s character, or law, be written? Will this writing be visible to mankind? Heb. 10:16 [Note: In prophecy the forehead symbolizes thoughts, and the hand symbolizes actions. Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10]

5. Which one of God’s laws especially identifies God’s people, marking them as those who accept His authority? Eze. 20:12, 20 [Note: The fourth commandment is God’s “seal.” It contains His NAME, TITLE, and DOMAIN-the elements of an official seal. Ex. 20:8-11]

6. Will the Beast power acknowledge God’s authority? 2 Thess. 2:4 [Isa. 14:12-14]

7. What will the Beast boast that he can do to God’s law? Dan. 7:25 [Note: The Pope claims preeminence over God, for he says he can change His laws! (See Lesson 15.) Only one of greater authority can change another’s law. The Catholic Church repeatedly claims the responsibility for changing the Sabbath commandment as proof of its authority. “The day mentioned in the Bible is not the Sunday . . . but the Saturday It was the Apostolic Church which changed the changed to the Sunday.” “Isn’t it curious that non-Catholics . . . observe Sunday . . .[which] rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible? That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church.”-John O’Brien of Notre Dame in The Faith of Millions, 1974, pp. 136-137, 400, 401. Rom. 6:16]

8. What is it that identifies and marks the Beast power? 2 Thess. 2:3, 7-9 [Ans: “Sin” and “lawlessness” (NKJV). Note: “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).]

9. When Jesus comes, all will have accepted God’s mark or the Beast’s mark. How are those who have received the mark of the Beast described? Matt. 7:21-23 [Ans: They call Jesus “Lord” but “practice lawlessness” (NKJV). 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Matt. 7:13, 14; 1 John 2:3, 4]

10. How are those who receive God’s mark (Rev. 14:1) described? Rev. 14:12 [Ans: They too call Jesus Lord, but they “KEEP” God’s commandments. James 2:10]

11. What will Satan do to those who refuse to receive the mark of the Beasts authority by keeping Sunday? Rev. 12:17 [Rev. 22:14 (KJV or NKJV)]

12. How will Satan make war with them? Rev. 13:16, 17 [2 Tim. 3:12]

13. While God’s followers symbolically receive God’s name in their foreheads, the Beast’s followers receive the Beast’s name (his character of lawlessness), signified by a number. What is the number of the Beast? Rev. 13:18 [Note: This is the number of a “man.” The Douay Bible notes that “The numeral letters of his name shall make up this number.” In ancient Rome, numbers were letters of the alphabet-called Roman numerals. As such, every name had a numerical value. The Pope’s official title is: VICARIUS FILII DEI- “Vicar of the Son of God” (Our Sunday Visitor, April 18, 1915). The numerical value of this name is 666. This is one explanation that fits the prophecy and, when compared with all other prophecies, helps to identify the Beast power. People will receive the Beast’s name in their right hand when Sunday laws become enforced and they yield obedience, and they will receive it in their foreheads when his character of lawlessness is written in their minds. Rev. 15:2]

14. What warning has God given against receiving the mark of the Beast? Rev. 14:9-11 [Ps. 37:12-20, 32-40]

Commitment: God says that the Sabbath marks His people as His, and that the Beast would make war on them. The Beast is that “lawless” one who would try to “change” God’s law, specifically the command involving “times”- i. e., the Sabbath. Thus, when Sunday keeping is enforced by law it will constitute the mark of the Beast. “You are that one’s slaves whom you obey” (Rom. 6:16). Today God is calling us to receive His mark (or seal). As you look upon your crucified Savior, will you acknowledge His authority by obeying Him and keeping His Sabbath?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

Prayer and Bible StudyReturn to the Bible study lesson contents.

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