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The Mark of the Beast
This
tract tells the truth about the "Mark of the Beast". Everything in it
is proven from the Bible. If you doubt anything, then you may look up the
scripture references and prove the truth for yourself. Please read it carefully.
This great crisis is almost upon us! We must be prepared to face it, but the
only way we can really do this, is by obeying God, and God alone.
We read about the Beast in Revelation chapter 13. First of
all we must understand something; is this a real beast? A real animal, or is it
just a symbol?
Answer: A beast represents a kingdom
(Daniel 7:17, 23).
So this is not a real beast, but is in fact, a kingdom. To
find out which kingdom this is, we need to look at some of the things which the
beast did, and then see if we can find any kingdom which did such works.
IDENTIFYING THE BEAST KINGDOM
1. He spoke blasphemies against God. (Rev.13:5,6)
2. He made war with the saints, and overcame them. (Rev.13:7)
3. All that dwelt on the earth worshipped him. (Rev.13:8)
4. He tried to change God’s law. (Dan.7:25)
5. He sat in God’s temple, exalting himself above God. (2
Thess.2:4)
6. His number is 666. (Rev.13:18)
There is not enough space in this tract to deal with all the
evidence, but when we look at the six points above, we realize that there is
only one kingdom in the world which could possibly be the beast. Let us now
identify this beast.
THE BEAST IS: The Roman Catholic Church-kingdom, which
is partly a church, and partly a political state. The head of the kingdom is the
Pope, and the headquarters is the little state of the Vatican which may be found
in Rome. Let me prove it: Just look at the six points I mentioned before and
compare them with these facts:
1. Blasphemies
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the voice of the
pope is the voice of God. It teaches that he, as well as the priests has the
power to forgive sins. In the Roman Catholic Church, sins are not confessed to
God, but rather to the priests.
2. Made war against the saints
In the past, nearly 60 million Christians were put to death
upon the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, because they dared to believe
different doctrines than those taught by the Roman Catholic Church.
3. All worshipped him
There was a time when the Catholic church was the official
church in nearly every country on the earth. Every person obeyed the Pope.
Even kings would bow down before him and kiss his feet. Do you notice how
popular the Pope is becoming again? Satan is preparing the way for the whole
world to receive the "Mark of The Beast."
4. Tried to change God’s laws
The Roman Catholic Church has tried to change God’s laws
(but they are as unchangeable as God Himself). In the copy to the Ten
Commandments used by the Roman Catholic Church, the second commandment, which
tells us not to bow down to images, has been removed. This is because in the
Catholic religion, Catholics are encouraged to bow down before the images of
Mary and dead saints.
Very importantly: The Roman Catholic Church has
tried to change God’s law which says, "The Seventh day is the Sabbath
of the Lord." They have tried to make Sunday, the first day, a holy day
instead. But only God can make something holy.
5. Exalting himself above God
The Pope sits in the temple in Rome, and says that he has
the powers of God, to send men’s souls to heaven or hell. He even claims
that his power is above that of God, for he says that he has the power to
change even the laws of God.
6. His number is 666
The Pope has been given the title, "Vicar of the Son
of God." In the Latin language, this is translated as, "Vicarius
Filii Dei." (Latin is the official language of the Roman Catholic
Church). In the Latin language, letters are used to represent numbers. When we
evaluate this title of the Pope using Roman numerals, we come up with the
exact number, 666.
So then, the beast kingdom is the Roman Catholic Church
kingdom, which is often called the Papacy, and the head of that
kingdom is the Pope! God’s word condemns the system. It is anti-Christ, even
though there are many sincere persons in it who truly believe that they are
following the true way of God, but they must leave it and turn to the truth in
order to be saved.
Now, here is the vital question: What is the "Mark of
the Beast"?
* It is not a literal mark. God’s
people are also said to get a mark in their foreheads. It is a symbolic mark.
(Rev.7:3; Rev.14:1; Exek.9:4)
* It is not the number 666. That is the
number of the beast, not the Mark of the beast.
*Take careful note of this point:
The mark of the beast will involve the breaking of God’s
law.
* What is sin?
Sin is when we break the law of God. (1 John 3:4)
Is it sin to receive the mark of the beast? Yes it is.
So then, the Mark of the Beast, which is sin, will
involve the breaking of the law of God.
What is the mark of the Roman Catholic Church?
The Catholic church says that it is the only true church.
They say that they have the power to change even the laws of God. Can they prove
it? They say that they can prove it. How? By the fact that they were able
to change the Sabbath from the Seventh day, to the first day of the week. It
was not changed in the Bible, but the Catholic church changed it, and everybody
has followed their example. They say that this proves that they have the power
to change even the laws of God. They say that this is A MARK of their
authority. ( You may find these claims in a book entitled, "An Abridgement
of Christian Doctrine."). So you see, the mark of the authority of the
Roman Catholic Church, is the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath, rather than
the Seventh day which the Bible commands. Therefore, since the Roman Catholic
Church is the Beast organization, then THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS....SUNDAY
OBSERVANCE!!
Sunday worship has always been the mark of false worship in
all ages. People who worshipped the sun, set aside the first day of the week in
honour of this false god. The Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks and many others,
worshipped the sun on this day. The Roman Catholic Church carried this heathen
practice into Christianity many years ago, and gradually, the First, instead of
the Seventh day came to be regarded as a holy day. They changed the Sabbath (but
God never changes).
Soon it will become a law that Sunday should be set aside
as a holy day. There are many religious groups who are trying to get this law
passed. Soon, those who do not keep Sunday holy will not be able to buy or
sell anything (Rev.13:17). God’s law says "the Seventh day is the
Sabbath," but the "Beast Kingdom" will demand that you observe
the first day.
Who will you obey?
Who will you worship?
Will you love God best of all? Will you obey Him even
when your life is threatened? Even now the Pope of Rome is travelling from
country to country becoming more and more popular. Everybody admires him,
"and all the world wondered after the beast" (Rev.13:3). Very soon
now, he will influence the governments of the world to make a law, that all men,
"small and great, rich and poor, free and bond", shall keep the Sunday
holy. The Pope is the only leader in the world who has strong influence in every
country in the world, and we can see by this, how he will be able to bring about
this law.
"All shall worship him whose names are not written in
the book of life ...." (Rev.13:8), but, "if any man worship the Beast
... the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God ..."
(Rev.14:9,10), "here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep
the commandments of GOD (not the commandments of men!), and the faith of
Jesus." (Rev.14:12)
Where do you stand? It is time now to choose whether you will
obey God, or man. Whether you will receive God’s seal, or the Mark of
the Beast.
May God help you to make the right choice.
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