RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST

The prophecy in Revelation 13 and 14 summarises the key points - (Revelation 13:16)

1. IDENTIFYING THE “MARK”:

“Of course, the Catholic Church claims that the change (of Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday) was her act…and the act is a “MARK” of her Ecclesiastical Power and authority in religious matters” – The Catholic Mirror, September 23, 1893.

And again “SUNDAY IS OUR “MARK” of authority… THE CHURCH IS ABOVE THE BIBLE, and this transference is proof of that fact…” – The Catholic Record, Ontario, Sept. 1, 1923.

After the completion of six days of creation the CREATOR GOD rested and blessed the seventh day (Saturday) - Sabbath day, and hallowed it for worship of Him by all mankind. Now, see how this was changed by mere mortals. What God commands/establishes can man change?

2. THE UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE:

Under Emperor Constantine Sunday worship was enforced with civil penalties – History of The Christian Church, 5th edition. NY: Scribner, 1902, V3, Page 31.

When Christians urge the passing of Sunday legislation, they are uniting the power of religious and civil authorities which inevitably leads to persecution. Please see - Luke 21:12.

3. OPPOSITION TO GODS LAW:

“Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claims to observance can be defended only on Catholic Principles….. From beginning to the end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first.”- The Catholic Press, Sydney, Australia, August 1990. 


“The Church changed the observance of The Sabbath to Sunday by right of the divine infallible authority given to her by her founder, Jesus Christ”. “The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday.” In this matter the Seventh-day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant. – The Catholic Universe Bulletin, 69, August 14th 1942, Page 4.

4. WORSHIP OF THE BEAST:
“The mark of the beast”, leads to the “worship of the beast”. If they worship on Sunday, they accept the authority of Rome. If they worship on Saturday, they accept the authority of Gods word Please see - Revelation 14:7, 9, 10 & 12.

“The Catholic Church over thousand years before the existence of a Protestant; by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday… Reason and common sense demand acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: Either Protestantism and the keeping of Saturday or Catholicity and the keeping of Sunday.” – The Catholic Mirror, December 23rd 1893.

5. LET US EXAMINE WHAT JESUS DID? –
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read (Luke 4:16). Please see - Luke 4:31; Mark 2:27-28 & Hebrews 4: 4, 8, 10.
Those who obey God and stand for truth, love and adhere to His Law during this great test will witness the greatest rescue in the history of the world, at Jesus Second Coming. Please see - Revelation 22:14 & Matthew 5:19.

Jesus was the poorest of the poor - Matthew 8:20. The Catholic Church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, govt. or state of the whole globe. Please see - Jack Chick, Smokescreens, Chick Publications, Chapter 10.

   NOW THE MARK OF THE BEAST BOILS DOWN TO THIS - Revelation 13:15-17

If one “BELIEVES” (All moral reasoning is made in the frontal lobe of the brain situated behind the forehead) Sunday is the day of worship (was changed by man) and chooses to worship on Sunday = receiving the “MARK IN THE FOREHEAD”.

If by “FEAR / FORCE” (of banning one from buying anything or selling anything which leads even to persecution) one chooses to work(earn livelihood) on Saturday(Sabbath day, contrary to the 4th commandment). = receiving the “MARK IN RIGHT HAND”.

HAVING THE SEAL OF GOD (Revelation 7:2)

Not at once did the innovation of Sunday observance set aside the Sabbath of the Lord (seventh day – Saturday) in the practice of even the general church. And through history, when the general church had fallen away, we catch glimpses here and there of faithful witnesses to God's holy Sabbath truth. Through all the dark centuries, the Lord had somewhere a little remnant keeping the light of the Sabbath truth glowing. They, too, overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, loving not their lives unto the death. Now, with the clear light shining from the open Book, it is for Christians everywhere to turn from tradition to the way of God's commandments and the example of Jesus Christ. Please see - Article 1, Article 2 & Article 3.

We are committing spiritual adultery by willfully breaking Gods 4th commandment, thereby, sinning in keeping any other day, even Sunday that has not been instituted or sanctified or made holy by God. – Exodus 20:5, 31:18 & Deuteronomy 5:9. Please see - Sabbath Truth.com & Bible Timelines

Before Jesus died on the cross He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) – finished the redemption work (John 17:1-5). And the day Jesus died was the preparation (Luke 23:54), He rested on Sabbath (Saturday) in the tomb – keeping the Sabbath, resisting from work, and He rose from the grave on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1).

Let us examine the cycles of time marked on earth, determined in astronomy by God – Genesis 1:14. The Bible says that the 24 hour day begins at sunset and ends at sunset – Genesis 1:5. Twelve hours darkness (night – sunset to sunrise) and 12 hours light (day – sunrise to sunset) – John 11:9 & Genesis 1:1-31.

• A day is measured by how long it takes the earth to rotate on its own axis.  Wiki for Day - Click Here.

• A month is measured by how long it takes the moon to revolve around the earth. Wiki for Month - Click Here
  
  
• A year is measured by how long the earth takes to revolve around the sun. Year - Click Here.

• What anchor in astronomical time is a week derived from? None!

The measurement of a week can be traced back only to God’s “CREATION” of six days work and seventh day Sabbath rest (Genesis 1:1-31 & Genesis 2:1-4).

Though the calendar is constantly being updated to compensate for the 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 47.8 seconds in the year, yet, the week of seven days has never been altered. Any change will simply not work, because God designed it so as seen below -

The French revolutionary government changed the calendar from a 7 day week to a 10 day week known as “DECADE”. Work 9 days continuously and every 10th day only was a rest day for one and all – that was the law. Soon severe physical and mental exhaustion reached epidemic proportions. Even horses became sick and died. The system was soon abandoned and they reverted to the 7day week as covenanted by God (Exodus 31:13-18; Isaiah 58:13-14 and Hebrews 4:8&10) Please see – Decimal Time.

NOW WHAT IS A SEAL?

Examine a seal on a document; a seal should have three components upon it. For instance:

• A name – X or Y or Z
• A title– President, Prime minister, Governor, Mayor, Chairman, etc….
• A territory – Country, State, County, City, borough, etc….

God has inscribed His seal with His own finger since ages past (Exodus 31:18). The seal of God is found in the 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11)

Why is the 4th commandment the only one of the 10 to begin with the word “Remember”? The word “Remember” tells us that God knew people were going to have trouble with that commandment – which they would be tempted to depart from it. If the law could be disregarded, then Calvary was only a meaningless drama. Some think, no more law (if so – no more sin – no reason to repent – no need for a saviour – no need for pastors – no need for churches and so on and so on) – The Decalogue / 10 Commandments(Exodus 20:1-18; Deuteronomy 5:6-21), is still valid today (James 2:10 – 11; Psalms 111:7,8; Revelation 22:14).

The 4th commandment identifies who is the author of all ten of the commandments – The Lord who “made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that are in them” (Revelation 14:7). Brothers and sisters the issue is not “only” about a day, it’s about allegiance, loyalty and obedience (1 John 3:7-9).

If we obey the Creator’s commandments and hence observe the original 7th day which is Saturday and rest from work, spend the day in worship of God = Seal of God!