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The Mark of the Beast
1. Revelation 13:16-18
2. Only two classes of people at the end of time:
  1. Those who receive the Mark of the Beast. Revelation 14:9-10
  2. Those who do not received the Mark of the Beast. Revelation 15:2
In order to understand this subject we must identify the Beast.
1. Revelation 13:1-7,18
2. Seven clues identifying the Beast:
  1. Dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
  2. Would continue for forty-two months.
  3. It was granted to him to make war with the saints.
  4. Would speak great things and blasphemies.
  5. Would receive a deadly wound
  6. Deadly wound would be healed.
  7. Would have a number 666.
3. Only one power fits all seven points and that is Papal Rome.
  1. Pagan Rome gave to Papal Rome its power, seat, and authority.
    1. Revelation 13:2
    2. "To the succession of the Ceasars, came the succession of the Pontiffs in Rome. When Constantine left Rome he gave his seat to the Pontiff." [Lablanca, Professor of History, University of Rome.]
  2. Would continue forty-two months. Revelation 13:5
    1. Papal Rome ruled from 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D., a total of 1260 years.
    2. In prophecy, God has given a day to represent a year. Ezekiel 4:6
    3. In Biblical times there were 30 days in a month. 42x30=1260
  3. It was granted to him to make war with the saints
    1. Revelation 13:7
    2. "Morally they believed themselves to be saving thousands of souls by the burning of a single heritic. Politically, they believed if possible by sufficient, persistent, and ruthless persecution, to extinguish heresy altogether." [G.G. Coulton, The Death Penalty for Heresy, p. 24]
  4. Would speak great things and blasphemy. Revelation 13:5
    1. "We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty" [Pope Leo XIII]
  5. Would receive a deadly wound. Revelation 13:3
    1. 1260 year came to an end in 17:98
    2. "In 1798, he [Berthier] made his entrance into Rome, abolished the Papal government and established a secular one." [The Encyclopedia Americana, 1941 edition]
  6. Deadly wound would be healed. Revelation 13:3
    1. "The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past and the Vatican was at peace with Italy… In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound…extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides." [San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929]
    2. "Now it can be said that everything which took place in Eastern Europe in recent year would have been impossible without the Pope's efforts and the enormous role including the political role, which he played in the world arena. Pope John Paul II will play an enormous political role now that profound changes have occurred in European History." [Toronto Star, Mark 9, 1992, Mikhail Gorbachev]
  7. Would have a number 666. Revelation 13:18
    1. Revelation 13:17
    2. Vicarius Filii Die, the Pope's official name
    3. Roman numerals. Vicarius=112, Filii=53, Dei=501, Total=666
What is the Mark of the Beast?
1. Placed in the forehead or right hand.
  1. Revelation 13:6
  2. Forehead represents the mind. It means those who accept the teaching in following the Beast.
  3. To receive the mark in the right hand means to give cooperation.
2. Those who receive the Mark of the Beast.
  1. Revelation 14:9-11
  2. These people will receive favor of man, but the wrath of God.
3. Those who do not receive the Mark of the Beast.
  1. Revelation 14:12
  2. Therefore the Mark of the Beast must affect the commandments of God and faith in Christ.
    1. If you keep God's commandments and have faith in Christ you will not receive the Mark of the Beast.
Has the beast done anything that affects the commandments and faith in Christ?
1. Faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 1:17
  1. Philippians 3:9
  2. Catholic statement about faith. "If anyone shall say that by faith alone the sinner is justified…let him be an anathema." [Council of Trent]
2. The Commandments of God.
  1. John 14:15
  2. John 14:21
  3. "The Church on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or the seventh day of the week, to the first day, made the third Commandment refer to Sunday as the Lord's Day." [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. IV p. 155]
  4. "Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change, the Church ever did happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday…not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church's sense of its own power….People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy." [Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel, May 21, 1995]
3. Enforcement of Sunday as the day of worship.
  1. Revelation 13:15-17
  2. How will they put teeth into this enforcement?
  3. Cyber money.
God's people in the last days. Revelation 14:12, Acts 5:29