THE MARK OF THE BEAST

We are going to take a look at something that is of interest for many people today, and there is a lot of videos about this specific topic online. The Mark of The Beast is an end time scenario spoken of in the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. It tells us that before Christ comes back, a ‘beast’ will enforce worship of an image, and have people take a mark on their hands or foreheads, which causes all that receive it to be lost at the second coming of Christ. They will also be afflicted with the plagues that are described in Revelation 15. In any case, there are many different theories that flourish, on what the beast, the image of the beast, and what the mark is. Which is, of course, a disadvantage, becouse if people don’t understand the true identity of the beast, or understand what the mark of the beast is, they can be more easily deceived into taking it. Some of the largest theories right now, that tries to explain the beast, and the mark is:

• 1. A new world order and a microchip implant made in the US.
• 2.Illuminati & the entertainment industry.
• 3.Islam.
• 4.The Catholic church and its Sunday law. As of Oct.12,2014, There are potentially over 18 million people that believe this.
• 5.A combination of several things.
• 6. Another theory, that are not so popular anymore, is that the beast is communism.

The scripure in question: Now, lets take a look at the scriptures in question:

“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: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Rev.13:16-18)

“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, 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: 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.14:9-11)

It seems that this is in fact a very serious matter to God, and it is a very strong warning. Let’s look at some more scriptures related to the mark of the beast:

“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.15:2)

“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 worshiped his image.” (Rev.16:2)

“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 worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Rev.19:20)

“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 worshiped 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.” (Rev.20:4)

A physical micro-chip implant:

Now, let talk about one of the most popular theories, which is speaking of a microchip implant that people will be forced, by a new world order, to implant into their body in order to buy or sell. The thought is that they will have all the info on the person that wears the implant. This sounds very similar to the biblical wording, doesn’t it? So, first, there are some questions that are worth answering. Why would God object so much to an implant like that? Why is the implant itself so terrible in God’s eyes, that He will condemn people to hellfire for taking it? After all it’s believed that this chip will help people buy and sell food. Why would God object to someone feeding their family by the help of a microchip implant? Well if it’s just this, then other implants should be taken into consideration as well. Like pacemakers, or other things surgically placed into the human body in order to keep someone alive, or just to improve their lives. Like cochlear implants to hear, or a bionic eye giving vision etc. There are so many different implants today. So, if an implant is used to improve someone’s life or health, isn’t this a good thing? Is it worth sending someone into the hellfire for? Well, the mark of the beast is tied to worship, and very many people think that receiving a chip implant, is in itself an act of worship to the new world order, that has an atheistic or pagan philosophy. Now if that is the case, we certainly have a huge problem. Because even the dollar bills, that the most vigilant Christians who believe in this theory are using on a regular basis, has the symbol of the new world order, and/or symbols tied to the Illuminati printed on them. And so, physically using this money would be just as much an act of worship, than that of using a chip-implant, working for the exact same purpose would be. Our health data and other data are all gathered in passports, bank/credit-cards etc. Basically, a chip implant, with all this information in one place, would not be more serious than all the info that is already electronically stored about us, but not implanted. We all use money, cards, and other everyday items that are somehow linked to people who are atheistic, or even in the secret Illuminati, or freemason clubs. If we don’t think we worship the inventors or those that are in control of the bank systems right now, why would we by taking the implant? So why would it be wrong to take such an electronical implant that it would make it the climax of the end time, and partly cause the second coming of Christ to judge the world? Additional questions need to be asked. Like for instance, have the condition for salvation been changed? Are there suddenly different reasons that either condemns us, or saves us in the end days, then what it has been in the last 2000 years since Christ walked the earth? Or is it the same battle going on still? How can we find out if the Mark of the Beast is a physical mark, a symbolic one, or maybe even both? First we need to understand a little bit about images and expressions that the book of Revelation makes use of: The following things are important to note when it comes to the book of Revelation:

1. It is full of references to the biblical sanctuary, and the service being done in it.
2. It has a continuation of symbols that have already been used and defined in the book of Daniel. For instance, in the book of Daniel we learn what beast, heads and horns are representing. Which in turn helps us understand what the beasts, heads and horns might symbolize in the book of Revelation.
   
3. It’s filled with similarities to stories in the Old Testament.
   
4. The wording in the book of Revelation, is also tied to the first book of the Bible, Genesis.

USA

It is interesting though, to notice how most theories include USA as a major factor in the end time scenario. There are two beasts mentioned in Revelation 13 that has something to do with the mark of the beast. They work together and the one is honoring the other. But as these two beasts becomes allies, we can for instance notice who in the world they are at war with, when we learn of a final confrontation between them and their enemies. This also help to identify them:

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Rev.16:12-14)

In other books in the bible, the kings of the east are mostly referred to as the children of Ishmael and Midian, the predecessors of the Muslims of today. The Muslims are also those that are inhabiting the areas around the Euphrates today. So let’s just assume for the moment that the Muslims are on one side and the other two powers are on the other side. Who are these other two powers? Right now, it is the USA along with it’s allies in Europe, who are constantly battling in Muslim countries and territories. So, could one of the end time beasts be the USA? Well, when looking at the different largest theories, most of them actually point to the USA being an important factor. Those who believe in the theory about the new world order and the chip implant, thinks that USA will make the chip. Those who think the theory about the papacy and the Sunday law is correct, believe USA will be the ones to enforce the Sunday-laws. Those thinking the antichrist is Islam, is of course ruling out USA. But if we are in the end times, it is not very to hard to see that a great battle between Islam and the West is imminent. However, in the scriptures that we just saw, if interpreted correctly, the powers in the west are the ones we are warned against

What it is, and what it is not about:

An important part of studying the book of Revelation is actually studying the book of Genesis. In Genesis we see paradise lost, in Revelation we see Paradise restored. In Genesis we see the serpent condemned, and in Revelation we see the serpent bound ready for eternal death. In Genesis we learn of the Saviour that is to come, and in Revelation we learn of the Saviour that finally conquers His enemies.

But where does the story of the mark of the beast reflect something in Genesis? Well we learn the following in the Revelation:

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Rev.13:15)

“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..” (V.16)

Here we notice that those who do not worship the beast, will be murdered or attempted to be murdered. And there is a mark. We also notice in Revelation that the one who is working together with the beast is called ‘The false prophet’, meaning someone who teaches man false worship. So the two, both those attempted to be killed, or those who are in fact killed, are among God’s people, and those who do the killing claim to also represent God. In the Revelation we see two women, a pure persecuted one in Revelation 12, and a harlot in Revelation 17, a corrupted church. These could be sisters of the same faith only one has fallen. In Genesis we find the first murder of one of God’s servants. Could it be linked to the
final, collective attempt to murder God’s people in the end? In the story of Cain and Abel we see two brothers, from the same mother and father. Their father was Adam which in the bible is a word also used on Christ, Him being called the second Adam. And so, think about this: could the followers of Christ, His children, and the descendants of Adam be linked in these two stories? The two sons of Adam worshiping, and also in Revelation, two groups of Christ’ followers worshiping. In the case of Cain and Abel, they both claim to worship God. But only one do it in the way that God told them to do it. Cain’s worship is rejected by God, even though it was claimed to be done to honor God. This angers Cain, and he ends up killing his brother over it. After killing his brother, God places a mark on the murderer.

“And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” (Gen.4:15)

Here, we can see that God protects the murderer from being killed himself, by others. This means that God Himself will deal with Cain and that no one else gets to punish him. Now, back in the book of Revelation we can see that God himself punishes the people who has received the mark. And Christ deals with the beast power Himself when He comes back. God’s people are not supposed to fight them themselves, using violence. Now there are parallels, but there are some differences too. In Revelation it is not God who gives the mark on the guilty, it is in actuality a mark they choose to take themselves. It is interesting to note how Christ warned against this particular saying:” “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me” (John. 16:2)Now, we can ask what might provoke God more; that an atheist kills his people in the name of himself, or someone killing His children saying they are doing it on God’s behalf? The first scenario you only have to deal with the murderer. In the second scenario, God doesn’t only have to deal with the murderer, He also has to clear His name that has been misused. And therefore the latter is even more serious then the first. So let’s add in this story of Cain and Abel when comparing the two books:

So this might give us an additional clue to what the final conflict is really about. Why have so many intentional parallells to Genesis, and then surprisingly the last parallel I mentioned is a coincidance? I believe firmly, that there are no coincidances in the word of God. Anyways, let us continue this thought, for the reason that whether it’s a real mark or not, a chip implant, or a man made law contridicting God’s law, it has to have deeper meaning then just being a surgically inserted implant.

The final WAR

The book of Revelation contains the great finale between the serpent, or dragon, and Christ. Notice the following scripture:

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev.12:8-12)

Now, what does the dragon do to continue fighting God? It says he starts persecuting those faithful to God:

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev.12:17).

So who is he after? Well, he is after those who keep the commandments of God, right? And they are Christians, followers of Christ? We are not talking about Jews who reject Christ, furthermore we’re not talking about those who believe it’s OK to break God’s commandments either, right? Well, now we have identified the attacker and the attacked in the final scenes of the earth’s history. Now we know who the target group is.So how is the dragon going to continue his attack on the aforementioned group? Reading in the next chapter, which is chapter 13, we get the answer to that question: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (v.1) ” And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (v.4)Question: who is the dragon after again? It is those who keep the commandments and the testimony of Jesus. The book of Revelation has identified the target group. Who is he using to battle them? The beast. Who follows the beast? “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.” (Rev.13:8). Therefore we now know that the devil uses the beast to continue to target the group mentioned, and that the world will be on the same side as the beast in this conflict. Here we have David and Goliath. But the dragon uses another power to fight the same target group.

“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. 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.” (Rev.13:11-12)

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Rev.13:15)

This is the power who will enforce the image of the beast upon the people. Now, if the last beast of Revelation 13 makes an image of the first beast, and they are both cooperating with the dragon, who are they targeting to kill? Who does God say they are going after? That’s right, it is they who: “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev.12:17) And so the image and mark is enforced. Revelation again confirms the two groups in chapter 14. Those who worship the beast on one side and God’s saints on the other side, explained and identified yet again as:

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev.14:12)

So now we know who is behind the beasts, it is the dragon. We know who the dragon is going after. And we know the people who does not take the mark of the beast is identified with the same characteristics as before. It is quite clear, considering the group the dragon is targeting to force to worship the beast, it’s image or mark, or the number or name of the beast, that it is all tied to something that is challenging the target group.In the book of Daniel we see four different beasts all representing powers that attacked or subdued God’s people. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The Jews were God’s people. But in the book of revelation we learn that the new target group is not the Jews, but followers of Christ. Because of this, we see that the beasts still represent persecuting powers, but the target group is no longer located in Israel but scattered all over the world. Thus, if the devil are supposed to have success in harming the target group, he has to make the dominion or influence of the beasts world-wide. When we read about the beasts in the book of Daniel we see a similar pattern with all the four beasts mentioned there. At that point the target group are the faithful commandment keeping Jewish people. In Babylon three Jewish men faced death penalty for not bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. This would be breaking God’s first and second commandment, and in this way they were forced to choose, either break God’s commandments and live, or keep the law and face the death penalty. This is the same situation as in Revelation 13 with the mark of the beast. Both is world wide, Nebuchadnezzar had every major leader bowing down to his statue:

“Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up;and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sack but, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Dan.3:3-6)

Notice this, the word Babylon is used in both places, the worshiping of an image, it’s wide range, and the death penalty. And those who are hurt by the command are God’s commandment keeping people, and it doesn’t stop there. Who saves the three faithful men?

“Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Dan.3:24-25).

Who is the son of God? That’s right, it’s Jesus. And there you have the same two characteristics, Jesus and the commandments. So what happens under the rule of Media Persia? The presidents and princes targeted and wanted to get rid of Daniel. Daniel was a man of God, among the faithful. But they could not find a way to get rid of him until they realized that Daniels ‘weak’ spot was His faith. So they tricked the king to seal, with his ring, a document saying that whosoever prayed to anyone else but the king for thirty days, should be killed. Again, who was being targeted? Anyone praying to God, obeying the first commandment of His law. Despite the consequences of breaking Medo-Persian rule, Daniel continued to pray to the God of Heaven, and was charged and sentenced to death. However, God saved him. Like this, the state, or the beast, here makes a law to intimidate God’s commandment-keeping people into breaking God’s law, and by doing that, fall short of the characteristics of Gods people. But, of course, it fails, Daniel remained faithful. Now there are a few stories about the Greeks in the Bible. But we know historically that the successor of the generals of Alexander the Great, put God’s people on a similar test.

“In the narrative of I Maccabees, after Antiochus issued his decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice, a rural Jewish priest from Modiin, Mattathias the Hasmonean, sparked the revolt against the Seleucid Empire by refusing to worship the Greek gods.”

After the revolt, and many battles, the Maccabees experienced success, and entered Jerusalem and ritually cleansed the Temple, reestablishing traditional Jewish worship. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple following Judah Maccabee’s victory over the Seleucid. The Seleucids was the line of one of the generals of Alexander the Great, who got one-fourth of the Greek empire. One of the heads of the beast representing Greece. So how about Rome? Well, they executed Christ himself. Jesus said He had kept God’s law, John said He was the word made flesh and He was, of course, Jesus Himself. And after that, they went ahead to persecute Christians for not worshiping the emperor, or not taking part in pagan festivals and traditions. Now why didn’t the first Christians want to do that? Christians today take part in pagan-inspired feasts? Well, the first Christians refused to break Gods commandments by worshiping in front of any statues. “Christians’ refusal to participate in public religion was as problematic to the populace as it was to the elites, and contributed to the general hostility toward Christians. Much of the pagan populace maintained a sense that bad things would happen if the established pagan gods were not respected and worshiped properly. [5][6] Edward Gibbon wrote: “By embracing the faith of the Gospel the Christians incurred the supposed guilt of an unnatural and unpardonable offense. They dissolved the sacred ties of custom and education, violated the religious institutions of their country, and presumptuously despised whatever their fathers had believed as true, or had reverenced as sacred.”[7] (Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Christian_policies_in_the_Roman_Empire) We can clearly see the same behavior from all the beasts. It is the same group that is being targeted, that has the same loyalty to the commandments of God. But the last beast, the Roman empire, now targeted those who had both faith in Christ, in addition to staying faithful to the commandments. Thus, under the fourth beast we have the identical target group as the one mentioned in Revelation. At some point in time, Rome dissolved and divided. But the pope later continued in the emperors footsteps. This time, for the first time, there was a people claiming to belong to God, that started attacking the true people of God. Two sisters, or two brothers, one persecuting the other. Object of dispute: How God is worshiped. The papacy took many lives during the middle ages, many of them were Christians who didn’t want to follow the lead of the pope, because they wanted to stay faithful to the commandments of God that the pope claimed he had changed. This shows us that the papacy does in fact have the characteristics of the biblical definition of a beast. Political, persecuting and attacking the commandment keeping people of God. The devil influenced Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome to trap the people of God. Who might the dragon want to use next in his battle? Again, we see that the book of Revelation reveals to us who the currently targeted group of the dragon is. It is the same group. We know who was persecuted, and we know who the persecutors were after the empire of Rome. It was Christians fighting Christians. An interesting fact that many don’t know about, is that when the Muslims started fighting the catholic church, and also later continued fighting it through the Ottoman empire, many of those that steadfastly held on to God’s commandments, actually found refuge in the territory of the Calif, because they were not the targets of the Muslims, their target was actually the Catholic dominance. Also, the Catholic church was not faithful to God’s commandments. They had removed the second commandment and changed the fourth. This means that Islam does not fit the characteristics of the beasts that were before. By targeting those who did not keep God’s law rather those who did, Islam in its early history did not fit the description of the beast. And because of this, it is therefore not likely at all that Islam is any of the beasts of Revelation 13. Because as a state, it wasn’t used to persecute those who were faithful to the commandments of God, and Christ. On the other hand, they were fighting a corrupted fallen church. Whenever Israel was attacked during Biblical times, and God allowed the attack, it was because Israel had fallen into idolatrous worship. Therefore God used the attackers to punish the fallen congregation. This way, Islam, both in it’s beginning and under the ottoman empire, fighting the Catholic church, fits more with the scenario where God allows someone to punish a fallen church than that of a prophetic “beast”. Again, today, many Muslims have attacked on both American and European soil. The US and Europe is the cradle or capitol of Christianity and protestantism. However, we know they are very corrupted. Nowhere else in the world is the breaking of God’s law more glorified then through the media in these countries. The question that needs to be asked is: do they (Europe/USA) fit the characteristics of a nation that God would allow to be harmed by other nations? Yes, I’m afraid they do.

The great finale

Why does the devil continue to use the same strategy from the time of Babylon, and all the way until today? What we see in the book of Revelation is the great finale between the dragon and Christ. In the past, God’s people where mostly centered in an area in the middle east. Today, the group that the devil is targeting is spread out world wide. But when, and where did the devil start his battle with God? What was his first attack on God’s people? The first attack was on Adam and Eve, created in God’s image, these two had only two commandments. To keep the Sabbath holy, and to refrain from eating of the forbidden fruit from the tree located in the middle of the Garden of Eden. What does the devil do? He disguises himself as something harmless, a serpent. You see, in those days a serpent was actually harmless.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen.1:26).

The first man and woman were told that they were rulers over the animal kingdom, which of course included the serpent. Yet she came to listen to him as if he was smarter then her.

“And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Gen.3:1-6)

So what is the first strike in the battle the devil wages? He claims to quote God, but he is not honest when he does. He is indicating to Eve that God was trying to keep all the good fruit in the garden away from her, trying to make her feel that God was being unreasonable and unfair. Eve corrects the statement of the serpent. But the idea that God is robbing her of something good, has already been planted in her heart. Then he goes on to tell her that breaking God’s commandment will not result in punishment, but in enlightenment and freedom. And then she is convinced, she breaks God’s direct command, and eats from the fruit. How did the devil succeed? He was making God’s people willing to break God’s commandment, under the false pretense that they would be prosperous by doing it. And thus, paradise is lost. But what do we learn of the group of people in Revelation, the ones that won’t take the mark of the beast, them that keep the commandments of God?

“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.15:2).

They are the ones who will experience paradise being restored to it’s former glory. Do you see the pattern here? Serpent is successful, then in the end; serpent is unsuccessful. Did the serpent, or the dragon continue the same battle from the garden of Eden to this very day? Reading the bible and history of Israel reveals the same story over and over again. When God’s people are faithful, then God saves them from their enemies. When God’s people break God’s law, then God allows them to be conquered. God calls them to turn from their ways, some do, and some don’t. The great finale is revolving around the same topic. But this time a specific group of people will be victorious, because of the power of Christ. The battle will reach it’s end at the second coming of Christ, as shown in Revelation 14, where Christ Himself will personally deal with both beasts of Revelation 13, and the dragon that is using them to further his cause. Surely, none of the parties in this battle have given up their agenda, neither the devil nor Christ. There is only one way to hurt Christ and that is to gain victory over His people. There is only one way for the devil to gain victory over His people, and that is by causing them to sin and break God’s commandment. And this is the reason why his agenda hasn’t changed, and will not change. The mark of the beast is clearly tied to the same battle that has been going on for the past 6000 years, and has little to do with modern technology, So, learning from the bible what is most likely the motive of the devil, and also who his targeted group is, what he wants to accomplish, we will need to understand how the mark of the beast, or an image or the beasts, or the name or number can be used by the devil to further his cause. Why doesn’t the devil want the world to worship the latest beast of Revelation 13 but instead the first? The bible states:

“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.” (Rev.13:12).

Why use the first beast? We will get to the bottom of this in just a bit.

Two opposites.

There isn’t just one mark in Revelation, there are actually two. Both are placed on the forehead, one is good, and you need it, the other one is bad. Both are given in what the Bible calls ‘the last days’. Both are given before the plagues of Revelation 15-16 are coming upon the earth. The good one:

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev.7:1-3)

Now this is interesting. The seal is given in order to save the lives of God’s people, from the plagues that are about to come upon the earth. Winds, in the bible, are repeatedly used to describe war and strife. However, the beast is threatening those who do not take it’s mark, with death. It really says, if you take the mark you will save your life. So both marks are claimed to be necessary to save your life. OK, so you’re thinking a seal is not a mark. Well, a seal is a mark. In the days when the book of Revelation was written, a seal was something used to imprint documents and such with. Wax was dripped where the seal was going to be placed, and it was pressed down on the hot wax on paper or parchment leaving a mark with a title and a name. Sometimes also with the area of jurisdiction. Let’s look at the explanation the Strongs concordance gives of the word used for “seal”:
σφραγις – sphragissfrag–ece‘ Probably strengthened from G5420; a (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively: – seal.
Other places this word is used in the new testament, is when Paul states that the sign of circumcision was a seal. Now this was a very physical matter, to be circumcised. It was a permanent mark. In the book of Revelation, seven seals are opened. A signet was what was once used as a seal in the old days by kings. But also by common people, even Judah had one. In Exodus a signet is indeed compared to an engraving:

“And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.” (Exo. 28:21).

The signet contained their names:

“And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.” (Exo.39:14).

Again a seal is an engraving:

“And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” (Exo.39:30).

We even see it in the story of Daniel and the lions den.

“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.” (Dan.6:17)

The same group of people that is sealed with God’s seal in their foreheads in Revelation, are again mentioned in Revelation 14:

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” (Rev.14:1)

So what we see here, is that God’s name is indeed a part of His seal. So why is this significant? Well, a seal was made to pass laws, as you, for instance, can see in the story from the time of the second beast, regarding the Medo Persian king that put his seal on the law that later was used to condemn Daniel. But we also know this from common history. Seals were placed by the ruler on all His words and documents. For a king it is a symbol that gives validity to a law or a verdict. The word ‘mark’, that is used in Revelation 13, charagma, is a word that has a similar meaning to how the word seal is used in the Old Testament. Notice that as we are told that the seal of God is placed on the foreheads of his people, leaving a sealed-writing showing God’s name. The mark of the beast in Revelation, is tied to the name of the beast. “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.” So it’s quite clear that there is a strong parallel. It is people living at the same time under the same conditions. But one group has the name or the number of the beast on their forehead, and the other has the name or seal of God. This is a strong indication that it is the behavior and the decisions of the people that decides which group they belong in. In Rev.7:3 it says:

“Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

Here they are already defined as servants before they have received the seal. Again we see them characterized as someone who obeys God, just as a true servant does. Again obedience is a key factor in this last conflict. Well, what about the followers of the beast? Two times we are told that the second beast of revelation tries to make us worship the first beast. Let’s look at the meaning of the word worship:
“proskuneoo pros-koo–neh‘-o From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate ’oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): – worship.”
Now, is there any possible way for us to kiss, like a dog licking his master s hand, or ’prostate ourselves in homage to, at the same time as accepting a mark with the name of the beast, which again is tied to obeying a law that is in conflict to God’s law? What did God say about worship?

“if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. ” (Deut.30:17-20)

So, here God says other gods, in Hebrew eloheem. The word Eloheem is also used to describe a magistrate or a judge in the bible. And he says to “serve them”. Now this is the same expression as used on those receiving the seal of God. Worship is tied to obedience. And if you are obedient to another master than the God of Heaven, you are actually worshiping another god, or great man or judge etc, and this is considered to be adultery. Actually, a wooden statue cannot make laws for you to keep, it doesn’t do anything you can follow. It just stands there. It’s man who makes the laws using different names for these gods, in order to place fear in man so that they will do their bidding. This has happened so many times during the course of the history of the Earth. In Revelation 13 we learn that what the beast represents, is man, not a god. To serve the name of the beast is following a man. The number of the name of the beast is the number of a man. Basically, you are following and serving, or obeying a man above God.
Question: do anyone we know today have worldwide influence, are being adored by kings, leaders and princes all over, is from a corrupted church, and are representing an alternative to the law of God? If you follow him, will you at the same time break the commandments of God? Well, it is only natural that I wanted to take a look at the Catholic church, that has had a very manipulating behavior in her many many years in position in the last 1500 years, which by the way is a very long time. Let us have a look at the Inauguration of the last pope, Francis. In the ceremony I noticed two things given to the pope, actually to all popes. One is the pallium – a lamb’s wool shawl, and also the Ring of the Fisherman. Yes, we are talking Lord of the Rings. But let’s first look at the pallium. The theory explains its origin in connection with the figure of the Good Shepherd carrying the lamb on his shoulders. Well, isn’t Christ the one that is the true good shepherd? Now to the Ring of the Fisherman. The ring shows a fisherman, that is supposed to be Peter, also claimed to be the pope. It is by claiming to be the successor of Peter, that the pope says he has the right to lead God’s people as the shepherd. Now the pallium has 6 crosses on it. Which is a little weird. I don’t want to get to stuck in details but, this is made of lambs wool, believed to represent the lamb. It has crosses on it, representing what killed Christ, and it has two spears through two of the crosses. The bible says that Christ had a spear thrust into his side. And when it comes to the number of crosses, which is 6, the number 6 is actually very frequent in the Vatican. I didn’t even look for it, but while visiting there the numbers were seen everywhere. The first thing I noticed as I was about to enter St.Peters church in the Vatican was the crowned dragon in the ceiling at the front door. Now, what does this pallium represent? That they are ancestors of the people that killed Christ? Who set up the cross? Well, it was the Romans. Who placed the spear in the side of Christ? A roman soldier. Who nailed Christ to the cross? Roman soldiers. Who was the lamb the symbol of? Christ. Are they honoring Christ or claiming victory over His death? Furthermore, on the fisherman’s ring that was given to Pope Leo, you can see the title ‘Pont Max’, which was also one of the titles of the Roman emperors who persecuted and killed the followers of Christ, who’s soldiers crucified Christ, and whose army destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.
Come on people: If it quacks like a duck and so on.
Did you know that the triumphal arch of Titus has pictures of the temple furniture being carried away by the Roman army, bragging about their success, having the title of both the Roman emperor on one side and the pope on the other? Notice that in the Bible, the churches of Christ has number 7 in total, not six, as we can read in Revelation chapter 1 and 2. That leads us back into the sanctuary. In Revelation, we see a reference to the sanctuary, and we see seven candlesticks, and Christ standing amidst them. Under the pope’s inauguration, he stands in the middle of 6 candlesticks. Why is the number 6 so important to the papacy? Let’s go back to the ring. The ring of the Fisherman is actually a signet ring. And it has the name of the pope imprinted on it. Well not his real name, but the name title he uses as a pope. So the name is tied to the job. I’ll quote something as simple as Wikipedia: “Through the centuries, the Fisherman’s Ring came to be known for its feudal symbolism. Borrowing from the traditions developed by medieval monarchs, followers showed respect to the reigning Pope, who was considered “the emperor of the world”, by kneeling at his feet and kissing the Fisherman’s Ring.” Although not needed to sign documents or laws, the ring is still handed over to the pope because it still holds the symbolic value of a signet. Actually, when Pope Benedict retired they made two deep cuts into his ring so that it couldn’t be used as a seal. Quote: “It’s been kissed by everyone from heads-of-state to cardinals and priests to ordinary people from every walk of life and scores of countries. The pope’s ring is also technically an official seal, exclusive only to him. So when Pope Benedict XVI resigned, so did his ring.” (http://www.pricescope.com/blog/new-pope-new-ring-cbs-news-video-creation-fishermans-ring ) See also: “(http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1301028.htm) The fisherman’s ring represents the popes’ authority to make laws as the emperor of the world. You may notice it’s not common practice for leaders all over the world to participate in a ceremony where someone is handed symbols signifying that they are emperor of the world. Usually, this would cause provocation. But let’s have a look at who showed up for this ceremony. Most of them dressed in black to show submission. 132 states and international organizations sent delegations to the inauguration. The delegations included 6 sovereign rulers, 31 heads of state, 3 princes and 11 heads of government. Even the Chief Rabbinate of Israel showed up.
But let’s go back to the coalition of the beast, the false prophet and the kings of the east clashing together at Armageddon. Guess who did not show up for the pope’s inauguration? That’s right, the rulers of the countries around the Euphrates. That is the Iranian, Iraqi, Saudi Arabian, Afghan rulers, and basically the majority of the rulers in Islamic countries. They are and have always been a thorn in the Papal eye. And they are most likely the ones mentioned coming over the Euphrates river to meet the beast, as they already have done several times in the past. The church of England, although they once separated from the papacy, also kept the symbols tying them to the papacy, as seen in the Arms of the See of Canterbury. Although every ring is either destroyed or marked when a pope dies so the ring cannot be abused, there are two rings in circulation. Pope Paul VI gave his fisherman ring to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey in 1966. “The ring, which Paul wore regularly, was given as a surprise to the archbishop who immediately placed it on his finger after having removed his own ring. Since then, the ring has been passed down from one Archbishop of Canterburyto the next and has become protocol for the Archbishop to wear it whenever he visits the pope. The gesture was a profound, important move by Paul to show the close ties of the Catholic Church with the Church of England. Interestingly, later Archbishops of Canterbury, fellow bishops, and the reigning pope still kiss this particular ring in veneration, as Pope John Paul II did on the occasion of Archbishop Rowan Williams’ visit.” So because it’s handed down, there are always two rings. This means that in theory, the pope can also give a ring to a leader in the US if they want. However, this does not mean that they lose their power, or give it away, but that they want to unite with someone. So, point is, the pope has a seal with his name on it that uplifts him as a lawmaker and leader in the church and the world. This is in competition with God and Christ. The Catholic Church claims that its lawmaking is above God’s. That means if they make a law (which they have) that conflicts with God’s law (which they do) you are to follow them above God (which their followers do). This attitude is exactly like the other beasts. They also compete with Christ while claiming to represent Him. They both claim similar titles. They both claim to be high priest, the good shepherd, the lawmaker, the supreme judge, the head of the church etc. And they both represent and advocate their own law. The pope has taken Gods commandments and changed several things in it. One is the removal of the second commandment. But he also changed the commandment that included God’s name and jurisdiction. Basically, he changed the commandment that contained the elements you can find in a seal. God said to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. Biblically speaking, that is from sunset Friday till sunset Saturday. In addition, He also tells us that the reason we need to keep it is to worship Him correctly as the creator of the whole world. Now the pope claimed he could alter it from Saturday to Sunday, because he had the authority of Peter, and was the head of the church. The authority that also is symbolized in the fisherman’s ring. When someone kneels in front of the pope, kiss his hand, or kiss the fisherman’s ring they acknowledge the pope’s right as a lawmaker. And when man keep his law above God’s law, they place the pope’s authority above the authority of God. Man over God. He made a new organization with worship that contradicts the Bible and Christ teachings. A religion based on the mixture of old pagan rites with Christianity while the true biblical was to be built on the foundation of the Old Testament as well as the New. In this way the Papacy became the “Cain” claiming to worship God, offering “their sacrifices” to God, but it’s a “sacrifice” of their own making, a sacrifice of disobedience and rebellion. And like Cain, they too persecuted and have killed those who wanted to follow the Bible and the Bible only, those who have the worship God approves of.
No one that comes into your house and starts rearranging it, are really respecting you. And thus you are presented with a choice. Do you follow man, the number of man, do you serve a man-made law that is contradicting God’s law? You know now that worship is about whom you serve, meaning whom you obey. Well, thus far no-one is forced to keep the pope’s altered version of God’s law instead of the original Ten Commandments in the western world today. We haven’t been forced to make a decision yet. But most laws do work in favor of those who reject God’s law. But if the papacy is the human power the bible mentions as the beast in Revelation 13, then who is the other beast that will force the mark of the beast upon us? Again we are directed to the USA. Pope Francis will be the first pope to ever address the US congress on the 24th of September this very year. The congress are the legislators. It has the power to enact, amend, and repeal public policy. What has a pope to do among US lawmakers? If the beasts of Revelation really are the papacy and the US, then we need to see an enforcement of papal law in order to see a fulfillment of the image of the beast and the mark of the beast. It has to be enforced, because it says clearly that those who will not worship or take it, will be excluded from buying and selling and even risk being killed. Now it may seem far fetched to many. But this has happened before. People were persecuted and killed for not obeying the papal laws in the past. Millions of people were killed during the Middle Ages. One of the persecuting forces on behalf of Papal legislations was called the Inquisition.
The mark of the beast could be a physical microchip placed on peoples forehead or hand, however there are a few things to consider. If it is, it can’t be anything more then a physical mark symbolizing something tied to something else of bigger importance in the eternal battle. Not taking a chip or taking a chip doesn’t change someones character. Jesus said that it all starts in the heart, which means: not in a chip. It’s with our minds we make decisions, or think clean or unclean thoughts. It is with our hearts we follow our instincts or feelings, and it is with our right hand we physically decide to do or not do the sin or the good deed that comes from our heart. “Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark.7:19-23) Many think the antichrist will come and hypnotize people into doing his will. But in the bible it is always a matter of choice. Remember what Elijah said:

“How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.And the people answered him not a word.” (1.King.18:21)

Even when the law was given at mount Sinai they we’re asked to willingly follow God. The battle has always been about choosing sides, or choosing to do the right thing. And in the last conflict we get to choose between Gods name and seal on our foreheads, or the mark of beast or it’s name on our forehead. But the decision comes with action. What we physically do, who we serve with our hands. The book of revelation is full of symbols tied to the rest of the bible. Many of the things written in this book are symbolic. For instance, we are not to fear a physical woman riding a physical beast. The beast is not physical but symbolic of a political power. So if the beast isn’t physical, how can it’s mark be? If it’s not a physical dragon giving it power, then how can we be certain that the part of the image is? Is it a physical image? Can we decide what are illustrations or symbols on our own? Or do we have to let the bible explain the wording itself? For if the book of Daniel reveals to us that the beasts represent political-religious powers persecuting God’s people, must not the mark of the beast, or the name of it, be connected to its symbolic meaning? Or the name of the religious-political power, or the head of it? And the mark, the mark of its authority, it’s right to make and seal its own laws over God’s? We already know the target group is those that keep God’s law, we also know that the mark of the beast and the beast is in opposition to God’s law. Furthermore, we know it is a corrupted religious-political power. This makes it clear that the mark that is being enforced is an attempt to make Gods people break or abandon God’s commandments. Another thing points to this. If we let the bible show us a place where the forehead and hand is used symbolically, we have to go to Deuteronomy and Exodus. And, not surprisingly, it’s about the law of God.

“And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” (Deut.6:8)

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.” (Exo.13:9)

So if the people that aren’t taking the mark of the beast are the ones who keep God’s commandments, then the ones who take the mark on their foreheads and their right hand are actually taking the law of a stranger, in the place where God’s law should have been. Well then, what about the Illuminati? We see superstars and actors and musicians all making the all-seeing eye, the 666 sign and the pyramid etc. They even sing about rejecting God and advocating the devil’s philosophy of life. To many, it has become so clear that this is what the bible is warning against. But then again, what if this is an obvious diversion from the real man of sin? Tell me what is the greater sin? Someone who openly rejects what you stand for, or someone who goes around claiming to represent you, while presenting something entirely different than what you believe? Obviously, the last one is in a bigger conflict with you than the first. The first one is at least honest. The devil disguises himself as he did in the Garden, for he is targeting those who belong to God. And they won’t follow him unless he can trick them. That is why Revelation 13:14 says it’s a deception, an attempt to trick you: “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast” Why do miracles as part of the deception? To make you think they have God’s blessings and that God is working through them.
I really think that the dragon knows he needs a counterfeit antichrist in order to finish what he started. And what better way than to have the people that receive the most attention in the world, today’s musicians and actors, openly flash symbols relating to the bible prophecy? They are just puppets, a diversion. And while you’re looking at them, the real man of sin, the one who claims to talk on God’s behalf, is walking straight into your congress, and isn’t even viewed as a threat at all. The man, who as a leader represents an institution responsible for millions of deaths over the coarse of 1500 years, that today is regarded as a man of peace. The same man who dresses up as a high priest, has taken the authority of Christ as head-shepherd, and claim to be chosen by God to change His law. Well then, is it complete nonsense that Sunday could be the mark of the beast? If it was enforced on the people, and those refusing to honor it, would lose the right to buy and sell, who would be honored? God said that you honor Him as creator by keeping his Saturday Sabbath. So who is honored by Sunday? That would, of course, be the one who instituted it, which is the pope. If God says to honor his Sabbath because He is the creator, and the pope tells you to honor Sunday, because he is lawgiver, and you choose to listen to the latter, then who are you serving? Who are you the servant of? The one whose word you hold of most value, the one whose word you follow. Sunday can never be regarded as following God, as neither God, nor Christ, ever advocated it, ordered it, or sanctified it. It is a purely human invention, that conflicts with the day that God did sanctify, and said was a symbol of His authority as the one and only true God. Now, you would think that if your going to mess with the law of a king, you wouldn’t have thought to change the single one where he says he is the supreme judge? But that is exactly what the pope did. When the pope’s hand is kissed, his ring of authority as the leader of God’s church and lawmaker; Or when kneeling is done before him, or when leaders dress in black to pay him homage, then the papacy, a human political-religious power, is being worshiped in the place of God. Make sure you remember that is what a beast is. So yes, if Sunday is sanctified by man, and Gods true sabbath is forced to be a work day or a national community work day, then there is no conflict in scripture for this day to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13 and 14. All the symbols used, all the comparisons, and the expressions are tied to a similar conflict. So what does the bible say that the United States of America is going to do? “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.” (Rev.13:12) Basically, it means, if you believe that this is speaking of the USA, that they will make the inhabitants on earth obey the papacy’s religious laws over the Biblical.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (v.15)

Again, are we talking about a literal photo or statue starting to talk? Or is it actually symbolic of the USA starting to act, and look like the papacy and what they did during the middle ages, and are they going to start persecuting the target group of the dragon, they “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev.12:17)? And what would be the means to make people follow them? Obviously those who refuse to obey their agenda must be pressured:

“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: 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.13:15-17).

So let’s continue the thought that this is symbolical. When seeing those refusing to follow the agenda and the law of the US and papacy, the US will retaliate by taking away benefits and even your chance to make a living. But God promises, that if you manage to press through this, and still be faithful to him and his law, He will reward you greatly. And he promises to come and conquer both the papacy and the US, and all the kingdoms of the world. Revelation shows us that we will be put on a choice, and asked who we want to serve. But many think it easy, having an atheistic antichrist on one side, and all the Christians on the other side. Unfortunately though, the unclean woman, having Babylon written on her forehead, have made the world drunken. She has been deceptive, and she has made you think she was talking on the behalf of God, while in reality she was working for the dragon. Many will be deceived, but everyone will have the opportunity to know the truth and choose it.