The Mark of the Living God
or
The Mark of the Beast?
What is represented by the Beast, the Im-age, and the Mark in Revelation 13?
Daniel 7:17,23 states that a Beast represents "Kings" or "Kingdoms". Scripture also tells us in Job 18:3; Psalms 49:12, 20; Ecclesiastes 3:18; Daniel 5:21; Micah 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:32; Titus l:12; 2 Peter2:12 and Jude 10 that "Beasts" are a symbol to represent "men". In Revelation 13:l-10 is given the description of a "Beast" or "Kingdom" of men "like unto a leopard" that arose from the "sea". Revelation 17: 15 states that "waters" represents, "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
Revelation 13:5,6 states that this "Beast"or "King" had a "mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;" and that "he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."
"And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?...But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." Matthew 9:2-4, 6. In John 10:33 we read, "The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not;' but for blasphemy; and because that thou, BEING A MAN, MAKEST THYSELF GOD." The Jews did not believe that Jesus was God. (see 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 2:6; and Hebrews1:8) Jesus was the ONLY MAN who walked on this earth who can FORGIVE SINS. (see1 John 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15-16) For any other man on earth to claim this power is BLASPHEMY! (see also Isaiah 37:23)
The ONLY "Beast" 'King" or "Kingdom" of "men" that arose from a populated area of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" and that claims the "power on earth to forgive sins" is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH whose leader is the POPE! "We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter dated June 20, 1894. This is the"Beast " of Revelation 13:l-l0! The Catholic popes and priests claim the power and authority to forgive sins. Therefore, the title "Holy Father" is attached to their names. But Jesus said, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call NO MAN YOUR FATHER UPON THE EARTH: for ONE IS YOUR FATHER, WHICH IS IN HEAVEN." Matthew 23:8-9
The prophet Daniel declared that the Roman Church, symbolized by the little horn (Daniel 7:8, 20-25), was to THINK TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS (Daniel 7:25), while Paul styled it the MAN OF SIN (2Thessalonians 2:3-4), who was to exalt himself above God. Only by changing God's law could the papacy exalt itself above God; whoever should understandingly keep the law as thus changed would be giving supreme honor to that power by which the change was made. Such an act of obedience to papal laws would be a mark of allegiance to the pope in the place of God.
The papacy has attempted to change the law of God. The second commandment, forbidding image worship, has been dropped from the law, and the fourth commandment has been so changed as to authorize the first instead of the seventh day as the Sabbath. But papists urge as a reason for omitting the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6) that it is unnecessary, being included in the first, and that they are giving the law exactly as God designed it to be understood. This cannot be the change foretold by the prophet. An intentional, deliberate change is brought to view: "He shall THINK TO CHANGE TIMES A LAWS." (Daniel 7:25) The change in the fourth commandment exactly fulfills the prophecy. For this change the only authority is that of the church. Here the papal power openly sets itself above God. The claim so often put forth, that Christ changed the Sabbath, is disproved by His own words. In his sermon on the mount He declared:
"Think NOT that I am come to destroy the LAW or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil1. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew5:17-18)
Roman Catholics acknowledge that the change of the Sabbath was made by their church; and they cite this change as evidence of the authority of the church to legislate in divine things, and declare that Protestants, by observing the Sabbath as thus changed, are recognizing her power.
"Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from MY SABBATHS, and I am profaned among them." Ezekiel 22:26.
"Protestants...accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change..." "Our Sunday Visitor" Feb. 5, 1950 "We Observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." - Peter Geiermann, CSSR, A Doctrinal Catechism, 1957 edition, p. 50.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (of the Sabbath to Sunday) 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 power and authority in religious matters." James Cardinal Gibbons, in a letter to J.R. Snyder of Bloomington, Ill., Nov. 11, 1895, and signed by H.F. Thomas, Chancellor for the Cardinal.
The fourth commandment, which Rome has endeavored to set aside, is the only precept of the decalogue that points to God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus distinguishes the true God from all false gods. "REiMEIMBER 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 (SATURDAY): wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11
The dignitaries of Church and State will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the SUNDAY. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Legislators will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance.
The SEVENTH DAY SABBATH is SATURDAY. God blessed the SABBATH DAY after the creation of the world. (Genesis 2:1-3) He gave the Sabbath as a "sign" between Him and His people forever. (Ezekiel 20:12, 20) Jesus kept the Sabbath Holy. (Matthew 12:1-13; Mark 1:21; 2:27-28; 3:2-4; 6:2; Luke 4:16, 31; 6:1-11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 5:9-16) The disciples kept it AFTER the crucifixion of Christ. (Luke 23:54-56) Paul kept it. (Acts 13:42-44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4) The Sabbath remains a "rest to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:4-l 1) It will be kept by God's people in the new earth. (Isaiah 66:22-24) The Sabbath is the "Lordk"Day. (Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:27-28; Revelations 1:l0)
SUNDAY will soon be the MARK OF THE BEAST when enforced by law, yet, this must not be confused with the number of the beast. 666 is the NUMBER of the BEAST, it is the number of a MAN. (Revelation 13:18)
"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." Revelation 13:11
The beast with "two horns like a lamb" in Revelation 13:11-17 represents the United States of America. The lamb-like horns, emblems of innocence and gentleness, well represent the character of our government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, Republicanism and Protestantism.
The Bible reveals that this "beast" "spake as a dragon" thus showing that this "Christian nation" will "exercise all the power of the first beast (Roman Church) before him..." (Rev. 13:11-12) Furthermore, this nation will form an "IMAGE TO THE BEAST". (Rev. 13:14-15) This "IMAGE TO THE BE4ST" will enforce the MARK OF THE BEAST (SUNDAY WORSHIP!). This national SUNDAY LAW will be enforced upon ALL NATIONS. Those who refuse to surrender the Bible Sabbath (Saturday) will not be able to "buy or sell" and many will be "killed" (Rev. 13:15-17; 20:4; John 16:1-2).
When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, then will Protestant America have formed an Image of the Roman hierarchy. Then the true church will be assailed by persecution, as were God's ancient people. Please read also John 16:1-2; Matthew 10:16-17; 24:20; Luke 21:16-17; and Revelation 13:15-l 7; 20:4.
John saw in vision the "remnant" people of God (Rev. 12: 17) who "...had gotten the
victory over the beast (Catholic Church), and over his image (Protestant churches who unite church and state to enforce Sunday worship), and over his mark (Sunday worship), and over the number of his name (666), stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." Rev. 15:2
These "'remnant " people of God are described thus, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12 These are God's faithful people who receive the "seal of the living God" "in their foreheads." Rev. 7:1-4. God's SEAL is his "SIGN". (see Romans 4:11 where "sign" and 'Seal" mean the same thing) God's "SIGN" or "SEAL" is in HIS LAW! "Bind up the testimony, SEAL THE LAW among MY DISCIPLES." Isaiah 8:16.
"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." "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 20:12, 20
Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteoasness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live, and not die. (Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10: 13; Matthew 5:48)
Will you receive the "SEAL" of God by keeping the Bible SABBATH (Saturday)? Or will you receive the "MARK OF THE BEAST"? (SUNDAY WORSHIP)
For more information, and/or a free book write:
Healthful Living Ministry
PO Box 7684
Citrus Heights CA 9562 l-7684
healthful-living@yahoo.com
Source: http://www.a4t.org/Sermons/Misc/kirtley-god_or_beast.html
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