What is the Mark of the Beast?

What does the Bible record as Satan’s favored attack on God’s people for thousands of years?

In Esther chapter three he used government authority to try and force God’s people to break God’s Law.  As we know, Mordecai chose to die on the gallows rather than break Commandment # 2.  In Daniel chapter three Satan again used government authority to try and force God’s people to break God’s Law.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose death in a fiery furnace over breaking Commandment #2.  In Daniel chapter six, Satan used government authority to try and force God’s people to break God’s Law. Daniel chose death in a den of lions rather than break Commandment #1. In all three cases, God protected His faithful, and delivered them from certain death.

Mordecai was honored (Esther 6:11; 8:2,15) and became “next” unto the king, (Esther 9:4; 10:2,3) and his enemy was hanged on the gallows in his place. (Esther 7:9,10) While in the fiery furnace heated “seven times hotter” to kill them; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were joined by the Son of God, and the fire caused them no harm. (Daniel 3:23-28) However, the men that threw them into the fire were killed by the flames. (Daniel 3:22) The hungry lions in the den were prevented from harming Daniel as well. (Daniel 6:22,23) On the other hand, the men that tried to force Daniel to sin were thrown into the den with their families to be consumed by the lions. (Daniel 6:24)

In New Testament times Roman law demanded worship of Roman rulers. Out of fear, most of the people did as the Romans demanded. In Acts 12:21-22 it states, “Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”  History records countless scores of Christians died in the Coliseums refusing to break Commandment #1 by worshipping Caesar. Later, a prophecy in Revelation 13:4 declared Pagan Rome “gave power” unto Papal Rome. History recorded this act, and like Pagan Caesars, Catholic Popes declared themselves gods.

“…superior papal authority and dominion is derived from the law of the Caesars.” Lucius Ferraris, in “Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica, Juridica, Moralis, Theologica, Ascetica, Polemica, Rubristica, Historica”, Volume V, article on “Papa,Article II”, titled “Concerning the extent of Papal dignity, authority, or dominion and infallibility”, #19, published in Petit-Montrouge (Paris) by J. P. Migne, 1858 edition.

“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous”.

With prophetic surety, Vatican law emulated the ancient Roman law, and demanded worship of the popes. For refusing to break Commandment #1, history records over 500 million were killed by the Popes of Rome between 538AD to 1798AD.

“That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history . . . It is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of imagination can adequately realize their sufferings.”-W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, vol. 2, p. 32, 1910 edition. (Also see the Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 12, p. 266.)

Out of inherited fear of the bloodthirsty Roman church, most denominations to this day teach the Law of God is no longer required. As Christians, we must ask, why does Satan persist in trying to get people to break God’s Law? If we look in the Word of God, we find it’s because Satan knows, Christians that keep the Law, will not receive the prophecied mark of the beast! In Revelation 14:9-11 we read of those that get the mark. It says, “…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.“

Keep in mind this speaks of the very last days in history. A time wherein most preach the Law of God is no longer necessary, even though they claim certain commandments, like number six that says “Thou shalt not kill” are still necessary. Did not Jesus Himself say in Matthew 5:18, “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.” How can the Law be done away with when Jesus says not so much as a speck will pass from the law? Has all been fulfilled as they assume? Has Jesus returned? Has the world ended? Clearly we are still here. Since all has yet to be fulfilled, then His law is still valid for those that follow Christ’s instruction. In fact, upwards of six decades after Calvary, when most preach the law was done away with, the apostle John stated in 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” After the angel shares with John in vision the just desserts of those receiving the mark of the beast, the very next verse says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12) What’s amazing here is, the Old Testament also spoke of the Law of God as being mankind’s inspired duty in Ecclesiastes 12:13 where it says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

In Revelation 13:16,17 we find it preaches about Satan’s plan to enforce this mark upon all of mankind. It says, “…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.” As Christians we need to ask, why is this mark so important, and what are the actual features of a mark? With Satan’s biblically recorded past in mind, will this mark also have something to do with breaking God’s law like it has so many times before? It worked well for him in the past on the masses, why not now?

Government declarations or documents must always bear a mark, or an official seal of approval on them in order for them to be considered valid. With that said, what are the actual features of an official mark or seal made by governing bodies? According to both ancient, as well as modern law; an official seal or signature must always have three distinct features to be considered valid. They are…

1. The name of the official
2. The title of the official
3. The territory of the official

For example, when the President of the United States signs a bill into law, he must always sign it,

1.Name “George Washington”

2.Title “President”

3.Territory “of the United States of America”

Collectively his signature reads, “George Washington, President, of the United States of America.” Every document must be sealed in this manner for it to become an official legal document.

The Creator God also has a kingdom as well as a legal document containing the Law for that kingdom. The Lord’s legal document of His Law is the Ten Commandments. Truth is, the Law of God came first. Since the beginning, mankind always copied the structure of governing rule from the Creator God Himself. It first happened so long ago, that most never acknowledge this today. When we look into the midst of the Law of God we find the seal of the living God in the fourth Commandment. It’s no mistake this seal is found within the “Sabbath Commandment.” It reads, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth….” -Exodus 20:11

In those few words etched by God’s own hand within Commandment #4, we see all three distinct features of an official seal.

1. His name = THE LORD (Notice in Scripture it says, “I am the Lord: that is my name” -Isaiah 42:8)
2. His title = CREATOR (Notice, “the LORD made” in above verse)
3. His territory = HEAVEN AND EARTH (Notice, “Heaven and earth” in above verse)

Collectively His signature reads, “The Lord, Creator, of Heaven and Earth.” The seal of the Creator is clearly found in the Sabbath commandment of His Law. It is an official acknowledgement of His authority as Creator. Of this there can be no question. When we keep His Sabbath, we are expressing by our actions that we “remember the works of the LORD.” (Psalm 77:11) If you read the entire 4th commandment found in Exodus 20:8-11, you will see that the very first word of that Sabbath commandment instructs us to “remember” Him as Creator by keeping this day holy. The word “remember” is actually a prophetic statement by our Lord. When you look at how the entire Christian church today has “forgotten” to worship and obey Him by keeping Sunday holy instead of His Sabbath, you see that even back then, the Lord knew His people would be taught to forget it. This is why Satan seeks to downplay the Law of God in the Christian church today. This is also why he focuses his attack specifically on the Sabbath commandment itself. Keeping that day is an open sign of worship towards the Creator God. That angers Satan because he seeks worship and wants to, “be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:14)

As Christians, we have known since very early on that Satan wants all of mankind to worship him instead of the Creator. He is doing just that via the popes of Rome by using Sunday sabbath as his standard of compliance. When we keep the Sunday sabbath of the Roman Church, we acknowledge, agree with, and yes, even worship the pope just as prophecy said the majority of earth would be doing in Revelation 13:3. But the Word of God is plain in Acts 5:29 where it says, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” To counteract this Godly mandate in Scripture, Satan has Rome boasting to be the only church worthy of obedience on earth. The fact there’s not a single Scripture from Genesis to Revelation saying God changed His Sabbath to Sunday proves mankind is right now obeying man rather than the Creator God.

“The Bible says, Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. The Catholic church says, No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep the first day of the week. And lo, the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic church!” Father Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redemptoral College, Kansas City, History of the Sabbath, p. 802

“…you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.” -James Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers (1917 ed.), pp. 72, 73.

So, how is the mark of the beast placed upon the disobedient? First Rome must have control over all necessary government offices around the world to be able to do as they wish. But how will Satan control the common man, which is the largest crop of souls on earth? National ID Cards that have been all over the News the last few years will be a mainstay in this system of control. (For more info, see… www.RemnantofGod.org/ID.htm ) These ID cards will contain your address, work history, educational background, ethnicity, health history, finances, passport, birth certificate, SS#, DL#, marital status, religious denomination, family tree, and criminal records. It will eventually replace all your credit cards as well as the use of cash. No, this card is not the “mark” itself. But it is a way to prevent buying and selling as we learned earlier in Revelation 13 is their prophesied plan. It used to take authorities up to as many as 72 hours to freeze bank accounts. With these ID cards logged into their global network system, it happens instantly anywhere in the world.

In prophecy it is confirmed the hand represents our individual freedom and livelihood. For example, in Jeremiah 38:23 it says, “thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon“ In Ecclesiastes 9:10 it says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” It is also declared in Scripture that the mind is where we make decisions. In Hebrews 10:16 it literally says the Lord will write His Law “in their minds.“ With that said, are you aware that Scientists have recently mapped the human brain? They actually found the forehead is where our decisions and judgments are made. In other words, we are sealed in the forehead when we make the free will decision to accept either God’s Law, or man’s law. But we are marked in the right hand when we are forced against our will to break God’s Law. In short, the mark is a choice each person will make soon. It’s no different than the choice, Mordecai, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, or Daniel made long ago. Bible history proved Satan always uses governing authorities to enforce laws that go against God’s Law. Today will be no different. To further confirm Rome looks upon this as their mark, see what they say in their own words.

“Sunday is our MARK of authority. . .the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact” Catholic Record of London, Ontario Sept 1,1923.

Like the governing authorities of ancient Bible history; Vatican City is also global governing authority. In fact, even more so now as they presently have 175 out of 192 nations in covenant with her. The leaders are actually photographed bowing before the Pope in an act of worship to authenticate their allegiance to the Pope. The reason Rome declares they are above the Bible is because all Bible believers are keeping Sunday holy. They know Rome invented it, and they know there is no Scripture to back it up. So, Rome assumes to be above the Bible when they worship as she demands over the Bible. This worldwide agreement with Rome was prophecied to occur in Revelation 13:3 when it said, “all the world wonders after” the Roman Church to follow her lead.

Will Rome do as all governing authorities before her and demand a law that goes against God’s Law? Can prophecy be that accurate?

“This organization proposes in every possible way to aid in preserving Sunday as a civil institution. Our national security requires the active support of all good citizens in the maintenance of our American Sabbath. Sunday laws must be enforced.” Quoted- “principles contained in the Constitution” (then called the American Sabbath Union), The Lord’s Day Alliance, Twenty fifth Report 1913), p6.

Pope John Paul II said, “Christians will naturally strive to ensure that “civil legislation” respects their duty to keep Sunday holy.” -Section 67, “Dies Domini”, July 7, 1998

Final note:

It was also prophecied in Amos 8:11 that in the last days, most Christians will not be, “hearing the words of the LORD.” Most pastors do not know about the prophesied Sunday laws or prophecies about Rome’s plans because they are not taught this in Seminary, or Bible College. Since they aren’t taught this, most Christians never hear of it when they attend their local church. Sadly, because of this, Jesus will “cometh as a thief in the night” to some who are to be “destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6) However, if you study Christian prophecy, and obey the Lord thy God, you won’t be in darkness where “that that day should overtake you as a thief. ” -1 Thessalonians 5:2,4

It is the prayer of this ministry that if you are in a Sunday keeping church, you heed the “voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” – Revelation 18:4

I pray you are blessed!

For more information, please visit https://remnantofgod.org/mark.htm