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Lesson 16 - The Mark of the BeastIntroduction: The Bible tells of a mark, or sign, that will identify the Beast and his followers. By receiving this mark one gives allegiance to the Beast, and acknowledges His authority to be greater than God's! In this lesson we will identify that mark. 1. What sign, or mark, reveals allegiance to God? Deut. 11:1, 8, 18 (Deuteronomy 11:1 NKJV) "Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. (Deuteronomy 11:8 NKJV) "Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess, (Deuteronomy 11:18 NKJV) "Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. [Note: The outward observance of God's commandments is a "sign on your hand," and believing them is as "frontlets between your eyes." This is GOD'S symbolic mark in the forehead and in the hand. The Further-study verses are Deut. 6:6, 8; Ex. 13:9.] 2. People look at outward marks, but where does God look? 1 Sam. 16:7b [Ps. 37:37; Eze. 9:4] (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 3. Everyone will one day receive a mark. What mark will God's people receive? Rev. 14:1 [Rev. 7:2-4] (Revelation 14:1 NKJV) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 4. Anciently a name represented one's character. God wants to write His name-or character-in us. God's character is described in His law. Where will God's character, or law, be written? Will this writing be visible to mankind? Heb. 10:16 (Hebrews 10:16 NKJV) "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," [Note: In prophecy the forehead symbolizes thoughts, and the hand symbolizes actions. Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10] 5. Which one of God's laws especially identifies God's people, marking them as those who accept His authority? Eze. 20:12, 20 (Ezekiel 20:12 NKJV) "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. (Ezekiel 20:20 NKJV) 'hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.' [Note: The fourth commandment is God's "seal." It contains His NAME, TITLE, and DOMAIN-the elements of an official seal. Ex. 20:8-11] 6. Will the Beast power acknowledge God's authority? 2 Thess. 2:4 [Isa. 14:12-14] (2 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 7. What will the Beast boast that he can do to God's law? Dan. 7:25 (Daniel 7:25 NKJV) He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. [Note: The Pope claims preeminence over God, for he says he can change His laws! (See Lesson 15.) Only one of greater authority can change another's law. The Catholic Church repeatedly claims the responsibility for changing the Sabbath commandment as proof of its authority. "The day mentioned in the Bible is not the Sunday . . . but the Saturday It was the Apostolic Church which changed the changed to the Sunday." "Isn't it curious that non-Catholics . . . observe Sunday . . .[which] rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible? That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church."-John O'Brien of Notre Dame in The Faith of Millions, 1974, pp. 136-137, 400, 401. Rom. 6:16] 8. What is it that identifies and marks the Beast power? 2 Thess. 2:3, 7-9 (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 NKJV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. {8} And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, [Ans: "Sin" and "lawlessness" (NKJV). Note: "Sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).] 9. When Jesus comes, all will have accepted God's mark or the Beast's mark. How are those who have received the mark of the Beast described? Matt. 7:21-23 (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' [Ans: They call Jesus "Lord" but "practice lawlessness" (NKJV). 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Matt. 7:13, 14; 1 John 2:3, 4] 10. How are those who receive God's mark (Rev. 14:1) described? Rev. 14:12 (Revelation 14:12 NKJV) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. [Ans: They too call Jesus Lord, but they "KEEP" God's commandments. James 2:10] 11. What will Satan do to those who refuse to receive the mark of the Beasts authority by keeping Sunday? Rev. 12:17 [Rev. 22:14 (KJV or NKJV)] (Revelation 12:17 NKJV) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 12. How will Satan make war with them? Rev. 13:16, 17 [2 Tim. 3:12] (Revelation 13:16-17 NKJV) He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, {17} and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 13. While God's followers symbolically receive God's name in their foreheads, the Beast's followers receive the Beast's name (his character of lawlessness), signified by a number. What is the number of the Beast? Rev. 13:18 (Revelation 13:8 NKJV) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [Note: This is the number of a "man." The Douay Bible notes that "The numeral letters of his name shall make up this number." In ancient Rome, numbers were letters of the alphabet-called Roman numerals. As such, every name had a numerical value. The Pope's official title is: VICARIUS FILII DEI- "Vicar of the Son of God" (Our Sunday Visitor, April 18, 1915). The numerical value of this name is 666. This is one explanation that fits the prophecy and, when compared with all other prophecies, helps to identify the Beast power. People will receive the Beast's name in their right hand when Sunday laws become enforced and they yield obedience, and they will receive it in their foreheads when his character of lawlessness is written in their minds. Rev. 15:2] 14. What warning has God given against receiving the mark of the Beast? Rev. 14:9-11 [Ps. 37:1220, 32-40] (Revelation 14:9-11 NKJV) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, {10} "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. {11} "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Commitment: God says that the Sabbath marks His people as His, and that the Beast would make war on them. The Beast is that "lawless" one who would try to "change" God's law, specifically the command involving "times"- i. e., the Sabbath. Thus, when Sunday keeping is enforced by law it will constitute the mark of the Beast. "You are that one's slaves whom you obey" (Rom. 6:16). Today God is calling us to receive His mark (or seal). As you look upon your crucified Savior, will you acknowledge His authority by obeying Him and keeping His Sabbath?
Further Study VersesQuestion 1 - Further Study (Deuteronomy 6:6 NKJV) "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:8 NKJV) "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Exodus 13:9 NKJV) "It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. -->Back to Study Question 2 - Further Study (Psalms 37:37 NKJV) Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. (Ezekiel 9:4 NKJV) and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." -->Back to Study Question 3 - Further Study (Revelation 7:2-4 NKJV) Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, {3} saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." {4} And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: -->Back to Study Question 4 - Further Study (Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV) "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Hebrews 8:10 NKJV) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. -->Back to Study Question 5 - Further Study (Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. {11} For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. -->Back to Study Question 6 - Further Study (Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJV) "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! {13} For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; {14} I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' -->Back to Study Question 7 - Further Study (Romans 6:16 NKJV) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? -->Back to Study Question 8 - Further Study (1 John 3:4 NKJV) Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. -->Back to Study Question 9 - Further Study (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. {14} "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (1 John 2:3-4 NKJV) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. {4} He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. -->Back to Study Question 10 - Further Study (James 2:10 NKJV) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. -->Back to Study Question 11 - Further Study (Revelation 22:14 NKJV) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14 KJV) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. -->Back to Study Question 12 - Further Study (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -->Back to Study Question 13 - Further Study (Revelation 15:2 NKJV) And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. -->Back to Study Question 14 - Further Study (Psalms 37:12-20 NKJV) The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. {13} The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. {14} The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. {15} Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. {16} A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. {17} For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous. {18} The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. {19} They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. {20} But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. (Psalms 37:32-40 NKJV) The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. {33} The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. {34} Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. {35} I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. {36} Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. {37} Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. {38} But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. {39} But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. {40} And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him. -->Back to Study
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