So what will be the Mark of the Beast at the end time

[Hobie]

It is a sign that says that you are carrying the seal of the Adversary as opposed to the seal of God. We see Gods seal in many verses and it clearly tells us what its about..
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spiritof promise,

Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

So what is the Mark of the Beast that puts the seal of the Adversary in your mind (forehead) or in your hand (actions), Lets take a look at the prophecy, so lets start with Revelation 14: 9-11.
9 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,
10 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:
11 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 we as prophecydescribes the terrible fate of those who receive the Mark of the Beast. In contrast, Revelation 14: 12 describes those who have the seal of God and stand victorious with Jesus at the end.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14: 12.

In Revelation 7: 1-3 an angel ascends from the east with the seal of the living God. This angel comes down from heaven and puts a seal on people's foreheads. Two classes are represented: Those who receive the mark of the beast and eventually receive the plagues. Those who keep the commandments of God, who are sealed by the angel, and do not receive the plagues. Scripture explains if we just look.
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8: 16.

Therefore, the seal of God is contained in His law.
The Bible teaches that the final issue will be over the seal of God as opposed to the mark of the beast.

The Mark of the Beast is his seal of authority, and that would be "a rule or order that it is obligatory to observe" which he has passed. This would include the Sabbath along with all the other changes he has made that he claims he has the authority to do so.

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: Daniel 7:25

So it is a change of Gods seal of authority which are his laws which have been with us since creation and were written out on the tablets of stone, by the Beast with false laws or rules of divine observance that are his seal of authority. We are told to follow Gods truth not traditions or doctrines of men, and his commandments stand as Jesus said:

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

And we are warned of the danger of following traditions of man..

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words: . . . beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:4-8.

Let no man beguile you of your reward. . . . Why as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances . . . after the commandments and doctrines of men? Col. 2:18-22.

So who tries to entice and lead you away with these traditions of man, its right out in the open if one looks..

 

[Hobie]

We find it hiding in plain sight..

"Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?
A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;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.
---A Doctrinal Catechism by Stephen Keenan, Imprimatur by John Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York

"Distinctive of the Roman Catholic Church, Sunday Mass observance became a mark of a practicing Catholic."
--- Dictionary of the Liturgy, Rev. Jovian P. Lang, OFM., Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1989,

"The attendance at [Sunday] Mass is the mark of a practical Catholic. One who fails to attend is not worthy of the name. While all mortal sins involve great malice, there is attached to this sin a peculiar and unique malice." ---The Faith of Millions, by the Reverend John A. O'Brien, PH.D., Copyright 1938,

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. It could not have been otherwise as none in those days would have dreamed of doing anything in matters spiritual and ecclesiastical and religious without her. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things". ---Letter to Cardinal Gibbons, November 11, 1895, from C.F. Thomas.

"The Church is above the Bible; and this transference of Sabbath observance to Sunday is proof positive of that fact. Deny the authority of the Church and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday in the Third - Protestant Fourth - Commandment of God." ---The Catholic Record, London, Ontario Canada, September 1, 1923

"The Pope has power to change times, to abrogate (change) laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ." --- Decretal, de Tranlatic Episcop.

If we look we can see what the sign of God or the mark of beast are. The claims have already been made by their respective parties.

 

[Hobie]

No dont shoot at the posts, as I am just the messenger, everyone must see and hear, and decide for themselves. The Bible has many places were it shows that people are marked to signify sin or show who they follow, so it has precedence:

Job10:14 -If I sin, then You mark me, And will not acquit me of my iniquity.

So here Job is saying we are marked by Yahweh if we sin.

We read in Ps 37:37 -Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.

Here we see the blameless and upright man is also marked.

Next in Eze 9:4 -and the Lord said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.'

Again a mark on the forehead by Yahweh who morn over the evil being done.

The following are verses that refer to a seal of God.

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Note that the previous verses seem to indicate a spiritual seal, not a physical seal. The following verses seem to be more of a physical seal

Rev 7:2 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,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Rev 9:4 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.

The seal of a king gives his name, shows or declares his claim to authority, and thirdly, the region of his rule. Henry VIII, King of Britain, Wales and Scotland for example. How is the seal used or what is the purpose of a King's seal:

Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Dan 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
So the seal of the King is a statement that his decree is not to be changed, not to be changed by anyone.

Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Note that the sign of circumcision is also a seal of righteousness. A sign and a seal are synonymous.

Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

Neh 9:38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
...
Neh 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

To depart from iniquity is to keep God's law. The disciples of God, those who call on the name of Christ, are sealed with His law.

Ezek 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Ezek 20:20 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.

So the law seals you and the sabbath is a sign of God, or His seal, representing His authority as Creator. So you can see where this is going, God shows his seal of his authority in his commandments especially with the declaration of his name, his claim to authority, and the region of his rule in the following.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 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:
Exo 20:11 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.

Notice that we can find the seal of God in verse 11.
The name given: the Lord
His title: Creator
His domain: heaven and earth to include all inhabitants

It is right out where a person can see if they want to..

 

[Hobie]

Now we have Revelation to unveil and show us more understanding on this...
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to shew His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." Revelation 1:1-3

These first verses set the scene for the book of Revelation. The word "Revelation" or "Apocalypse" means to reveal and the book of Revelation is meant to reveal vital issues to the New Testament Church and the end-time church in particular.

The notion that the book of Revelation is a sealed book or one not intended for man to understand goes against that. Moreover, it must be understood the book is written "to show His servants" those things which they needed to know in order to come to terms with events as they would unfold. To understand the book of Revelation therefore requires an intimate knowledge of God and His word as well as the promised guidance by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit was promised to those who obey God (Acts 5:32) and He would lead God's people into all truth. (John 16:13). Now here are verses that refer to the mark of the beast and his characteristics:

Rev 13:16 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:
Rev 13:17 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 14:9 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,
Rev 14:10 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:
Rev 14:11 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.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev 15:2 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.

Rev 16:2 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 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev 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 worship 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.


So both the Beast and its Image are worshiped.
Notice how many times worship is mentioned in connection with the Mark of the Beast so it has importance.

We glorify and worship God in following his commandments and specifically worship is embodied in the forth. So Gods seal of authority are his commandments or law, the Mark of the Beast shows his authority with false laws and times he has changed, the verses also make clear he is worshiped and that those who follow him will receive his mark.

Now here is the real eyeopener that I never thought I would find, this is from a Baptist website, not only are Gods seal of authority the commandments set aside but then they go the next step and to justify ignoring the Gods truths destroy the Sabbath:

"According to the Bible, Christians do not have to keep the Sabbath, neither on Saturday nor on Sunday; for them every day is holy. Early Christians met, preached and worshipped daily. Sunday is not the Christian Sabbath, but it has a special meaning to believers (Acts 20:7; 1Cor. 16:2; etc.), since Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Sunday (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2.9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1), and the first out-pouring of the Holy Ghost was on Pentecost, Sunday (Acts 2:1,4). So Christians set aside Sunday as a day of rest and worship in honor of the resurrection."

The Beast is clearly identified as political and religious power who will have a SIGN; an identifying label, a MARK, which it will seek to impose on all who will submit to its will. It will not be a "secret" sign, or mark, but has to be obvious, outward, easily recognized sign, which the whole system wears to show its allegiance!

The "little horn" of Daniel 7:8, which "has a mouth speaking great things," and which will "think to change TIMES and LAWS" is the key so you must look down through the centuries, to see what has changed Gods commandments! Have God's laws been changed; has anyone said to worship man in the place of God, or made and worshiped idols even though God says not to, or taken Gods name and blasphemed it, or abolished His divinely-appointed Sabbath and replaced his holy days with pagan festivals.
So anyone who looks can see this was part of sun worship; and point to the change of God's weekly Sabbaths for the first day or Sunday, the day of the sun, and putting the pagan festivals upon millions of unknowing believers with the substitute and holidays of ths sun festival. For centuries, Christians were brutally martyred; tortured, burnt alive, killed for refusing to accept the changes to the Commandments, and clinging, instead, to God's holy Sabbath, and His truth.
There were wars against them or they were relentlessly hunted down and slain if they tried to follow Gods laws! This persecution had to do with times and laws The whole reason for them being put upon would be for observing the Gods laws or his seal of authority, the Mark of the Beast would be its false edicts which was put up against them by decree, backed up by force of arms, enforced the changing of "times and laws" on those who, fearful of their very lives, would submit. Well, now we see it coming through another way, through saying we just need a day to rest the environment or a day off for the workers, any which way, but it all comes down to the seal of the adversary, the Mark of the Beast.

 

[Hobie]

Now if you take the time to look, you cannot but connect all the changes or introduction of false "times" such as the worship of festivals that are not scriptural or from God but from another source.

Listen to what God says in Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. 25 Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus, Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

Do a study on Sikkuth and Chiun. They are Molech and Ishtar, and Israel was warned about worshiping these Babylonian gods of the false eastern pagan religions. Thus we can see the festival days of paganism creeping in and being substituted for what God had given them to celebrate and worship HIM........

The introduction of Pagan holidays into the church began about the fourth century A.D. with the Roman Emperor Constantine, in order to consolidate his rule, incorporated the Pagan holidays and festivals into the church ritual, attracting the Pagans, but he gave the holidays and festivals new "Christian" names and identities - Easter was a celebration of the spring equinox for the pagans. In order to introduce the feast of Easter into the calendar, the dates were changed by Dionysius, so that Easter was celebrated a month later than the original Jewish Pasch feast. This was to bring it in line with the ancient eastern festival dates for this feast, and the new date for Easter was then introduced by force. On this day, the ancients lit fires and baked cakes to the queen of heaven with the ancient eastern religions even-sided cross in a circle representing the sun as decoration on these round cakes. To this day, the hot cross bun is an Easter delicacy. The egg is also a pagan symbol representing rebirth, and decorated eggs were traditionally eaten on this feast day. Ancient Israel was constantly warned against these pagan day from the ancient Babylonian religion. In Jeremiah 7:18, we read:
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven; and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.

The ecclesiastical historian, Socrates, attributes the introduction of the festival of Easter into the church to the perpetuation of an old usage, 'just as many other customs have been established.' (Hist. Eccl. V. 22)
The Easter fire is lit on top of mountains...this is a custom of pagan origin.

Now whats bad is that it actually led to the word being changed from its original meaning, to "Easter". The Greek word that the King James Version translates as “Easter” is actually the word “Pascha” (Hebrew: פסח—Pesach) which means “Passover”. It was during an annual Passover celebration that Jesus was crucified at Jerusalem. Here is the text in question:

Acts 12:4 King James Version

"4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."

We find it was translated incorrectly because the bible scholars preconceived ideas led them to this. If we look at the text from previous versions we find it was correctly translated...

Acts 12:4 1599 Geneva Bible

"4 [a]And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people."

Acts 12:4 Wycliffe Bible

"4 And when he had caught Peter, he sent him into prison; and betook him to four quaternions of knights, to keep him, and would after pask bring him forth to the people [willing after pask to bring him forth to the people]."

And others..

Acts 12:4 Complete Jewish Bible

"4 so when Herod seized him, he threw him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, with the intention of bringing him to public trial after Pesach."

Acts 12:4 Young's Literal Translation

"4 whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people."

So how could this happen, why would such learned men change something from one meaning to another, simple, because of their preconceived ideas. You see, it has taken time, but Greek philosphy and Ghonosticism had been picked up and in Rome the old beliefs and festivals were still followed by the Romans and many Christian and leaders didnt see a problem with it. One of the first disputes arose as the bishop of Rome allowed the celebration of the Pasch or Passover to continue till the following Sunday so Christians could also celebrate Spring Equinox festival as they had done before. Now the danger of allowing the Christians to join in pagan solstice celebrations was overlooked as the new pagan 'converts' joined the church and swelled the numbers under the bishop of Rome. But other Christian leaders saw the danger of worship according to the old pagan festivals and tried to stop it in what came to be known as Paschal/Easter controversies. The first recorded such controversy came to be known as the Quartodeciman controversy.

Eusebius of Caesarea (Church History, V, xxiii) wrote:
"A question of no small importance arose at that time [i.e. the time of Pope Victor I, about A.D. 190]. The dioceses of all Asia, according to an ancient tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon [of Nisan], on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should always be observed as the feast of the life-giving pasch (epi tes tou soteriou Pascha heortes), contending that the fast ought to end on that day, whatever day of the week it might happen to be. However it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world to end it at this point, as they observed the practice, which from Apostolic tradition has prevailed to the present time, of terminating the fast on no other day than on that of the Resurrection of our Saviour." So the bishop of Rome began the practice of fixing the celebration of Passover for Christians on Sunday and it spread through the old areas of the Empire.Polycarp the disciple of John the Apostle who was now the bishop of Smyrna, came and confronted Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome who had allow the changes in the Passover and other changes to bring in converts. According to Irenaeus, around the 150s or 160, Polycarp visited Rome to discuss the differences that existed between the other centers of Christianity in Asia and Rome "with regard to certain things" and especially about the time of the Pasch or Passover which in Rome were now the Easter festivals. Irenaeus says that Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, observed the fourteenth day of the moon, whatever day of the week that might be, following therein the tradition which he derived from John the Apostle. Irenaeus said that on certain things the two bishops speedily came to an understanding, while as to the time of the Pasch and the change to Easter, each adhered to his own custom. Polycarp following the eastern practice of celebrating Passover on the 14th of Nisan, the day of the Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it fell while the bishop of Rome let it be observed on Sunday.

So the Bishop of Rome ignored the warning and continued to allow the Passover to be observed on Sunday at the pagan Spring Equinox festival and we can see how the Pasch was change to the festival of Easter. But not only was it just the festival as more pagan converts came in, they were allowed to worship on the pagan Spring Equinox festival day which they were used to, while Christians continued to worship on Sabbath. A careful study of the historical records reveals that gradually, with the passing of the years, the Roman bishop tended to use his new day, Sunday, as a ploy for political supremacy over the other churches. Now the danger of allowing the Christians to join in pagan solstice celebrations was overlooked as the new pagan 'converts' joined the church and swelled the numbers under the bishop of Rome. The festival on Easter controversy continued, with the Eastern churches giving it stiff opposition until the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., at which time Sunday was declared the official day for Easter observance. Emperor Constantine immediately followed this, the same year, with civil enactments enforcing it among the churches, and it began to take hold as we see to this day.

So now you can see how this led to the Bible Scholars changing Gods truth, to their preconception of what it was. So the changing of Gods days which he set aside for worship to him is evident in the making of "Holy Days" the festival days of the another origin which is not of God...

 

[Hobie]

So we see how many preconceived ideas and wrong teachings that have come into the church, can be brought in and have been, even by well meaning men and become tradition, but not be true. We also see this in the idea that the wicked will continue to live eternally in hell, or that the Resurrection changed the Sabbath, or that man is immortal, etc.. So we have to look at what was brought in from outside of the scriptures, and being picked up although not its true meaning. The Mark of the Beast has been with us from almost the Early Church as
Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result and we see it in the establishment of the Roman papal power. He declared that before the return of Christ would, "come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who exalteth himself above all that is called God;" Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors in belief that would prepare the way for the false teachings to come in, and history confirmed how it happen.

Little by little, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of believers, paganism and idol worship came into the church. Almost imperceptibly the traditions and customs of Pagan Rome found their way into the Christian church from the former center of the Empire and spread. It had been held back by the persecutions by the Roman Emperors, but as persecution ceased, and Christianity was accepted, the true church laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ for the rites, sacraments and pomp of ancient Rome and the practices of pagan priests and ancient heathen worship with its Babylonian/Greek/Roman gods inscribed with Christians names.

 

[Hobie]

History shows that Emperor Constantine declared the Bishop of Rome as the enforcer of truth and basically forced the merger of paganism into the church, and the heathen substitute now hidden with a form of righteousness, walked right into the church. The old religion of Pagan Rome that stretched all the way to Babylon, while appearing to be vanquished by the church, became the conqueror. Pagan doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. In the early church, the bishop of Rome, along with Alexandria and Antioch, was regarded as a Patriarchate, or an autonomous diocese. To this group was added the patriachates of Constantinople and Jerusalem in the fifth century. This group of five was regarded as leading the church as a whole. However, gaining political influence and claiming "historical events" saying the tradition that Peter and Paul had been martyred in Rome, the Bishop of Rome made himself first among equals. To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the great men of earth; the church was forced to yield allegiance to the the bishop of Rome.

Many of the ancient people worshiped the sun and other pagan gods as they thought that their sun gods and fertility goddesses died at the winter solstice and regained life again at the spring equinox. Note what it says in Judges:
"Judges 2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."

Baal worship is sun worship, and Ashtoreth/Ishtar/Astarte is the queen of heaven. This is why there are so many sunburst images in Catholicism and why Mary is called the Queen of heaven. It is the apostasy of idol worship of Baal and Ashtaroth that started to come into the church.

Long before the birth of Mary, pagans fashioned Madonna and child icons and placed them in sacred shrines. Many believe that with the rise of Christianity and papal power, the Goddess would slowly disappear from western culture and fade away. But they didnt, the names and the images of the Madonna and child have changed, and spread. For many pagan 'converts', the blending of their ancient goddesses with the Virgin Mary was a major part of what allowed them to keep their pagan gods but get in the church.

The Bible would have quickly shown they had turned away into false beliefs so its truths had to be concealed and suppressed. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was prohibited by the papacy. The people were forbidden to read it or to have it in their houses, and the Bible having been removed, the papacy moved quickly. To afford converts from heathenism a substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote their nominal acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images and relics was gradually introduced into the Christian worship. To hide what they had done, Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second commandment in their writings, forbidding image worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number.

Then they went after the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the Sabbath, and put in the festival day observed by the heathen as "the venerable day of the sun." The papacy used the old gods and mysticism that were present as history shows, and worked to bring about this change. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday substitute, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ, still in use today. Religious services were held upon it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath was still being sacredly observed, but was slowly being torn down using these methods.

 

[marks]

I just go with what the Bible says,

Revelation 13:16-17 KJV
16) 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:
17) 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.

It's a mark on your right hand or forehead. You will be checked for this when you try to buy and sell, and if you don't have it, you won't be allowed.

Much love!

 

[BarneyFife]

I just go with what the Bible says,

Revelation 13:16-17 KJV
16) 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:
17) 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.

It's a mark on your right hand or forehead. You will be checked for this when you try to buy and sell, and if you don't have it, you won't be allowed.

Much love!

Following that hermeneutical model, then (just going with what the Bible says), we must surely expect to see the following in all literality:

11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

I wonder how easy it would be to get a literal mark on 8+ billion people's right hands or foreheads.

 

[Jack]

Suggestion: Don't accept a chip implant in your right hand or forehead.

 

[BarneyFife]

So, you're an SDA who believes the Mark of the Beast is Sunday worship? Then you and your 'sect' condemns over a billion Sunday worshippers, and you have no problems with that? Then you'll likely tell me that it's the bible that's condemning Sunday worshippers.

Oh, it could be way more than just over a billion, I'm afraid.

But our "sect" is not in the condemning business. Folks condemn themselves with their own unbelief (John 3:18). But as long as they familiarize themselves with the Sheperd's voice (John 10:27), they'll hear the call to "worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters (Revelation 14:7, Exodus 20:11).

So, no worries, right?

Did you know that nearly 70% of the verses in the book of Revelation allude to the Old Testament?

And that Christ and the apostles preached the Gospel from the Old Testament?

Luke 24:32 - Jesus Opens the Scriptures

They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?

biblehub.com

And that the last chapter of the Old Testament counsels those who are waiting for the "great and dreadful day of the LORD" to remember the law of Moses?

What's up with that?!!
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[marks]

Following that hermeneutical model, then (just going with what the Bible says), we must surely expect to see the following in all literality:

11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

I wonder how easy it would be to get a literal mark on 8+ billion people's right hands or foreheads.

And God has feathers? Since we shelter under His wings?

Personages, shown symbolically, a beast, another beast, (like in Daniel), a lamb (like the Lamb), a dragon (like in the previous chapter), yes, I don't see these as animals emerging from the ground, but I look at other passages to see what I might see.

The narrative of what these persons will do seems straightforward narrative. What part is symbolic, and how do you know? The beast, the lamb, the dragon, these have demonstrable symbolic use, with demonstrable understandings of those symbols.

The image of the beast? Symbol? Or real, like the image on the plain of Dura? Power for the image to speak? Causes fire to come from heaven? Are any of these literal? To me it seems so. If not, what do they mean? Is he given literal power? Will all the world literally worship him, who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Will they literally be marked? That seems the plain saying of the passage to me. So I believe it.

Much love!

 

[Ronald Nolette]

It is a sign that says that you are carrying the seal of the Adversary as opposed to the seal of God. We see Gods seal in many verses and it clearly tells us what its about..
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spiritof promise,

Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

So what is the Mark of the Beast that puts the seal of the Adversary in your mind (forehead) or in your hand (actions), Lets take a look at the prophecy, so lets start with Revelation 14: 9-11.
9 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,
10 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:
11 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 we as prophecydescribes the terrible fate of those who receive the Mark of the Beast. In contrast, Revelation 14: 12 describes those who have the seal of God and stand victorious with Jesus at the end.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14: 12.

In Revelation 7: 1-3 an angel ascends from the east with the seal of the living God. This angel comes down from heaven and puts a seal on people's foreheads. Two classes are represented: Those who receive the mark of the beast and eventually receive the plagues. Those who keep the commandments of God, who are sealed by the angel, and do not receive the plagues. Scripture explains if we just look.
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8: 16.

Therefore, the seal of God is contained in His law.
The Bible teaches that the final issue will be over the seal of God as opposed to the mark of the beast.

The Mark of the Beast is his seal of authority, and that would be "a rule or order that it is obligatory to observe" which he has passed. This would include the Sabbath along with all the other changes he has made that he claims he has the authority to do so.

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: Daniel 7:25

So it is a change of Gods seal of authority which are his laws which have been with us since creation and were written out on the tablets of stone, by the Beast with false laws or rules of divine observance that are his seal of authority. We are told to follow Gods truth not traditions or doctrines of men, and his commandments stand as Jesus said:

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

And we are warned of the danger of following traditions of man..

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words: . . . beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:4-8.

Let no man beguile you of your reward. . . . Why as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances . . . after the commandments and doctrines of men? Col. 2:18-22.

So who tries to entice and lead you away with these traditions of man, its right out in the open if one looks..

All you say is true of what happens in a person internally. but the mark of the beast is an actual physical mark. It is the outward sign that one has received the Antichrist as Messiah!

God's seal is internal because god knows and sees all. Satan cannot see in the hearts so will require a physical mark to see who belongs to him or not.

 

[Mikey-for-sure]

No dont shoot at the posts, as I am just the messenger, everyone must see and hear, and decide for themselves. The Bible has many places were it shows that people are marked to signify sin or show who they follow, so it has precedence:

Job10:14 -If I sin, then You mark me, And will not acquit me of my iniquity.

So here Job is saying we are marked by Yahweh if we sin.

We read in Ps 37:37 -Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.

Here we see the blameless and upright man is also marked.

Next in Eze 9:4 -and the Lord said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.'

Again a mark on the forehead by Yahweh who morn over the evil being done.

The following are verses that refer to a seal of God.

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Note that the previous verses seem to indicate a spiritual seal, not a physical seal. The following verses seem to be more of a physical seal

Rev 7:2 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,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Rev 9:4 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.

The seal of a king gives his name, shows or declares his claim to authority, and thirdly, the region of his rule. Henry VIII, King of Britain, Wales and Scotland for example. How is the seal used or what is the purpose of a King's seal:

Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Dan 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
So the seal of the King is a statement that his decree is not to be changed, not to be changed by anyone.

Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Note that the sign of circumcision is also a seal of righteousness. A sign and a seal are synonymous.

Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

Neh 9:38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
...
Neh 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

To depart from iniquity is to keep God's law. The disciples of God, those who call on the name of Christ, are sealed with His law.

Ezek 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Ezek 20:20 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.

So the law seals you and the sabbath is a sign of God, or His seal, representing His authority as Creator. So you can see where this is going, God shows his seal of his authority in his commandments especially with the declaration of his name, his claim to authority, and the region of his rule in the following.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 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:
Exo 20:11 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.

Notice that we can find the seal of God in verse 11.
The name given: the Lord
His title: Creator
His domain: heaven and earth to include all inhabitants

It is right out where a person can see if they want to..

Hello Hobie, you wrote a lot and sort of speed read it. If nothing added - excuse me.
You cited Eze 9:4. it indicates the mark of the forehead. It is the weeping for Tammuz, the spring pagan god who dies and lives again. Sound familiar?

Zechariah 3 :1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
This indicates the right hand.
The forehead mark gets you to babylon and babylon leaves the right hand mark. Both undesirable. The difference is it is not babylon exile but babylon destruction as per Revelation

 

[Scott Downey]

It must be a mark in the body of some kind that signifies allegiance to the beast monetary system, and all those marked worship the beast and his image too. So it involves the whole person, mind, body, soul.

Forehead is conscious thought, right hand doing the work

 

[Patrick1966]

...and the apostles preached the Gospel from the Old Testament?

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I believe that the apostles were creating and teaching the words of Jesus and not the Old Testament. Why would the apostles be teaching the Torah, which had already been around for a few thousand years? Undoubtedly, the apostles were themselves writing down scriptures that were being copied and shared with the newly formed churches.

 

[Patrick1966]

It must be a mark in the body of some kind that signifies allegiance to the beast monetary system, and all those marked worship the beast and his image too. So it involves the whole person, mind, body, soul.

Forehead is conscious thought, right hand doing the work

Yea, I'm inclined to think that it's a spiritual mark, perhaps. If we're still here when the time comes, I'm confident we'll see it for what it is! Until then, we can speculate.

 

[Patrick1966]

Neither do I think the anti-Christ is a global dictator. It seems that his kingdom is limited to the Mideast and his goal is to take out Israel.

As Satan imitates and counterfeits everything of God, I think there is an excellent possibility that the anti-Christ will be or claim to be Jewish and that Israel's Jews will recognize him as their Messiah. What do you think?

 

[Patrick1966]

I know why people believe that. Daniel's God of his Fathers...etc.

I'm old school on this one. I believe the Anti-Christ will be an Assyrian AKA a Muslim.

Islam will accept him as their messiah - the Mahdi.

It's a fascinating topic. I wish I had the answers.

 

[MatthewG]

mark—
χάραγμα (charagma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5480: Sculpture; engraving, a stamp, sign. From the same as charax; a scratch or etching, i.e. Stamp, or scupltured figure.

Perhaps a paper slip signifying allegenice to Nero.

There is superscription of his claiming to be either the Son of God or God himself.

Nero Versus the Christians | History Today

www.historytoday.com