|
|
WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?
The mark of the beast would be a counterfeit of Yah's mark, or seal. It would have to resemble closely the genuine, which is the observance of Saturday, the true 7th-day Rest. Satan, through the Catholic Church, set apart the 1st day of the week, Sunday, as a day of rest. The Church acknowledges she has brought in a counterfeit rest day. Note the following:
"Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
"A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
"Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
"Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
"A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her."— …Peter Geiermann, C.Ss.R., The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, 1944 ed., p. 50.
The Catholic Church claims that Sunday is her mark of authority, just as Yah claims that the 7th day of Rest [Saturday] is His mark of authority.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change is her act; it could not have been otherwise, as none in those days would have dreamed of doing anything in matters spiritual or religious without her, and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters."—Catholic Mirror, September 23, 1893.
Protestants Acknowledge Sunday as a Mark
"When the people, through their representative, LEGALIZE the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK as a day of rest and of worship for those who choose so to observe it, it is the SIGN of the Christian nation."—From a sermon reported in the Christian Oracle, January 12, 1893.
"For nothing were the noble men who planted true Christianity and an evangelical church in the wilderness now constituting the United States more distinguished, than for their reverence for the Sabbath (Sunday). It is quite a prominent feature of their character—a sign between them and the heathen world around, and, to a large extent, it has continued to be a MARK OF AMERICAN RELIGION, to the present day."—J. G. Lorimer, in Christian Treasury.
Sunday Enforced by Law
The intolerant and real animus of the Sunday-law movement maybe distinguished from the following quotations. The statements were made by men who became renowned for their zeal in endeavoring to secure a national Sunday law:
"We might add, in all justice, if the opponents of the Bible do not like our government and its Christian features, let them go to some wild, desolate land, and in the name of the devil, and for the sake of the devil, subdue it, and set up a government of their own on infidel and atheistic ideas; and then if they can stand it, stay there until they die."—…E. B. Graham in Christian Statesman, May 21, 1885.
"We propose to incorporate in our national Constitution the moral and religious command, 'In it (the Sabbath) thou shalt do no work,' except works of necessity, and by external force of sheriffs we propose to arrest and punish all violators of this law."—…M. A. Gault, in a letter dated June 3, 1889.
"Let those who will, remember the Sabbath to keep it holy, from motives of love and obedience; the remnant must be made to do so through fear of law. We have no option."—Christian Nation, September 28, 1887.
"We want state and religion; and we are going to have it. It shall be that so far as the affairs of the state require religion, it shall be religion, the religion of Jesus Christ."—Jonathan Edwards, D. D., in National Reform Convention, New York City, February 26, 27, 1873.
David McAllister, D. D., in a speech made at Lakeside, Ohio, in July, 1887, at a National Reform convention, said:
"Let a man be what he may—Jew, seventh-day observer of some other denomination, or those who do not believe in the Christian Sabbath—let the law apply to everyone, that there shall be no public desecration of the first day of the week, the Christian Sabbath, the day of rest for the nation….Let it not be publicly desecrated by anyone—by officer of the government, or by private citizen, high or low, rich or poor."
This is what Yah said would happen as recorded in Revelation 13:16:
"and he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a Smark in their right hand, or in their foreheads."
Romanism and Protestantism United
There will be a decided change in the attitude of Protestantism toward the Catholic Church. These 2 bodies are getting closer and closer. They will unite on the Sunday-law issue, and through their united efforts the state will yield to their demands. Thus the image to the beast will be set up with the death penalty attached to Sunday and will extend throughout Christendom. Every week the news media relate developments in the friendship of Protestantism and Catholicism.
Mark in the Forehead or the Hand
"And the 3rd angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any one worships the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand." Revelation 14:9.
When the Sunday law goes into effect, there will be those who actually believe Sunday is the day to be observed, and will keep it religiously. Such will have the mark in their foreheads, or minds. Others will know that Sunday is not the true Rest day, but because the law enforces its observance, they will cease from labor. These will have the mark in their hands.
Death Decree
" And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast would both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast would be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no one might buy or sell, except those that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:15-17.
This decree is issued by man, stating if we do not have the mark of the beast we will be put to death.
"And the 3rd angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any one worships the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same will drink of the wine of the vengeance of Yah, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the consecrated angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." Revelation 14:9, 10.
Yah issues a death warrant against those who have the mark of the beast.
We are all facing the same issue. Which side will we choose? Yah help us to stand against the false sabbath.
The last act in the drama that will end the tragedy of the world will be when the government of earth unite to put to death those who are loyal to the true Rest day of Yah.
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that obey the Commandments of Yah, and the faith of Yasha." Revelation 14:12.
Yah will have a people who will stand amid all the combined forces of evil, true to Him and His downtrodden Rest day, even in the very face of death.