Bible Studies

Have you accepted the Mark of the Beast?

by Paul Taylor
11/07/21
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Have you accepted the MARK OF  THE BEAST?

By Paul Taylor

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 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 worshipped his image. Revelation 16:1

Scenarios abound as to whom  this verse is applying, and what the mark, and the worship of the beast mean. Hopefully after reading this article, you will have a better insight into what the mark of the beast is and to whom it applies. What you are about to read is contrary to what you have been taught,  but be patient and read till the end, it is all based on God’s Holy scriptures, and historical fact, so let’s do a little research to see what God’s word has to say concerning this, Mark.

Following  the Hebrews exit from their Egyptian bondage, God caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness because of their disobedience and lack of faith to enter the promised land., so we’ll  begin our study at the conclusion of the 40 years of wandering and at the point they were preparing to enter the promised land. Moses is reminding them of their past captivity and how God had brought them out against all odds and was giving them  final instructions and warnings  on what God expected of them in this new land.

Moses calls the twelve tribes together to remind them of who their God is, where they came from, how they had arrived at this point in history, and what their God expected of them as they entered into the promised land.

Moses recited the history of their journey from the bondage under the Egyptians, the forty years in the wilderness, the miracles God had performed upon them, of Gods Ten Commandments, His moral statutes  and health laws of clean and unclean foods they could and could not eat, and of the annual feasts and Sabbaths they were to observe throughout the generation’s as a reminder of their bondage and the miracles of releasing them from this bondage. Moses instructed them, if they would adhere to what God had decreed, He (God) would bless them beyond their imaginations, but if they rejected His instructions and allowed themselves to become a part of,  and adopt the strange cultures, worshipping the strange gods of this new land, then God would cause them to forfeit what He had blessed them with.

The Hebrews, just like the Christians of today, were reluctant to give up worldly ways and traditions in order to be obedient to God, but  more than willing to partake of the strange customs and practices which were an abomination to God. They, just as todays Christians use God as their shield on a convenient as needed basis, continuing with their traditions even though they are  in contradiction to Gods laws and statutes. I encourage you to study the Old Testament patriarchs’ writings such as Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to get a picture of Gods dealings with the nations and peoples who continued in disobedience to His commands.

Now let’s get into the study of what this mark is, and to whom it applies. Revelation 13:16 refers to a mark in the forehead or in the right hand. The forehead is in reference to the frontal lobe of the brain where all actions and thoughts of the human mind take place. Here are a  few scriptures to reinforce this fact.

“Therefore, the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's FOREHEAD, thou refusedst to be ashamed.” Jer.3:3.

“Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy FOREHEAD strong against their FOREHEADS.” Eze.3:8

Jeremiah and Ezekiel are referencing the hard headiness and stubbornness of the people to abide by Gods laws and statutes, indicating the  actions taken originate in the frontal lobe of the brain. Revelation 13:16 also references the hand as having a mark, so let’s look at a few scriptures to show what the hand is in reference to.

Bible verses in reference to the hand and forehead have nothing to do with physical marks or technological implants, but implies strength, and/or actions of the individual directed from the thoughts in the forehead.

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds; when the morning is light they practice it, because their HAND is their god (Micah 2:1),

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his HAND again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.” Isa.11:11.

“And the rest of the people he delivered unto the HAND of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.” I Chron.19:11.

“And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine HAND and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Deuteronomy 6:8

We see in the scripture from Deuteronomy 6:8 that Gods laws are to be bound between the eyes and upon the hand as a sign or mark that you are a child of God and abide by His ordinances, not mans. The frontal lobe is located between the eyes in the forehead. The hand is referencing the actions of the thoughts generated in the frontal lobe.

We see in these scriptures, the Bible’s reference to a mark is indicative of the thoughts and actions of the individuals based on their own perceptions, or of following the direction of someone else. That being said then, God has instructed His people to bind His words upon our hands and in the forehead as a sign (mark) that we are His people following His laws and words, not mans. By following God’s ways, we become a peculiar people, different, we stand out from the world, not participating in the wickedness and unrighteousness of  this world. So, by following the laws and statutes as dictated by God Himself, we are branded with Gods mark in our foreheads (His words) and practice them with our actions (hand)in our daily lives.

The mark of the beast of Revelation 14:9,11, 16:1, and other scripture in Revelation, are pertaining to those Having the mark of the beast in their forehead, (frontal lobe) and in their hand, (actions).

As a child you learn from your parents. siblings, and or peers the lessons that will affect your life in the present as well as the future. If you were reared in  a moral and righteous way, chances are you will not depart from those ways and will be more inclined to reject any symbolism of wrongdoing and or immoral actions. This can be considered a mark in the forehead of righteous upbringing, which in turn results in the actions you take, which would be the mark in the hand.

Those reared on the opposite side of  life with out the positive influence and direction of  loving parents and or siblings are most likely to follow the ways of the immoral and wrongdoers. The mark of this upbringing has been branded  in your forehead and the hand therefore is the symbol of your actions in life from the mark in your forehead.

I know this sounds confusing, but God’s  word clearly makes the distinction of actions by the hand are from  the thoughts  generated in the forehead.

The Bible says those who receive the mark in their forehead or their hand and follow the beast, will suffer the consequences. For example,  the first of the seven plague of Revelation 16 describes a noisome sore afflicting only those who have taken the mark of the beast and WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE. 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 WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE. Revelation 16:1

In Revelation 13:1 we see a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, and in Revelation 17:3 we have a woman riding a scarlet-colored beast having ten heads and seven horns and full of names of blasphemy. In Daniel 7:8 we see a little horn coming up amongst the ten horns, of which three have been eradicated, leaving seven horns.

 Before we proceed let me give some explanations of these symbols to better understand what is happening here.

Beast     = Kingdom, government, political power 

Crowns  = Kingship, victory

Horns    =  strength, power and or kingdom           

Mark     = Sign/Seal/mark of approval or disapproval

Heads   = Major powers/rulers/governments

Sea       = Peoples, large populations

Scarlet = Sin/corruption

Woman = Church/religious order

In Revelation 13 we see a beast (kingdom) rising up out of the sea (populations of people). In Revelation 17:3 we see a woman  dressed in purple and scarlet (church) riding a scarlet-colored beast (corrupt and sinful kingdom) The woman dressed in purple and scarlet also denotes a corrupt church filled with sin and abominations.

Revelation 17 goes on to describe this woman riding the scarlet-colored beast with her blasphemous style of sin and corruption, relishing in wealth and elegance of the highest order, and having power over the nations. A further description details her unholy relationships with the kings of the earth, her deceptive teachings which has caused the world to be made drunk from the wine of her many deceptive teachings.

She is described as a  mystery, and an abomination to the earth. John further details that she is saturated with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Christ.

Daniel describes this same woman (church/religious order) with eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:25 also describes this woman changing times and laws speaking great things against God, so according to the prophet Daniel, and the visions shown to, and described by John in the book of Revelation, the woman (church)  of Revelation 17 and Daniel 7:25 are the same.

I have written a lengthy study on the Whore of Babylon as described in Rev.17, so I won’t go into a lot of detail, but will try to give you enough information for you to perform your own personal research into this subject.

The symbolic language of Revelation and Daniel indicates this to be a religious organization posing as a genuine Christian church with millions of followers, reveling in wealth and opulent riches, and with   powerful political connections able to destroy anyone in opposition to her doctrines and philosophies, as she changes times and laws. Since this is a religious order and not a civil order then, Daniel is indicating she will change religious laws to support her agenda and doctrines.

Has any religious organization changed  God’s laws and or statutes from the original, and if so, which ones, and  who authorized the changes?

The reformation of the Middle Ages led by men such as Martin Luther, William Huss, John Tyndall, John Wycliff, and many others  fought and died at the hands of the Papal power, to bring out the truth of the scriptures to show the world the false teachings of the Church of Rome under its Papal leadership. Many millions over the course of 1260 years died because of their refusal to bow to the false teachings of the Roman Church and its Papal tyranny.

What are some of the false teachings to which the Christians objected to? The most important was the changing of the seventh day Sabbath (Saturday) worship to the first day (Sunday) worship. This change was first instituted by Constantine in AD 321 and known as the Edict of 321. This was an effort by Constantine  to bring more political stability among the pagans and the Christians as Constantine himself was a pagan sun god worshipper, and the day of worship to the sun god Ra was Sunday. The church of Rome accepted this as a means  to grasp political power,  and by doing so allowed many pagans to come into the church bringing their pagan practices with them, and the Roman church gladly compromised the word of God for  the political correctness to gain political power.

Most Christians at that time balked at changing Gods Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, but in AD 364 the Council of Laodicea enacted a Canon to officially change the Sabbath to Sunday. Most on the council were anti-Semitic  and did not wish the church to appear as following the Jewish traditions of worshipping God on the seventh day, and or keeping the Holy days and festivals throughout the year as commanded by God in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy

Following is the Edict of 321 by Constantine which changed the Sabbath to Sunday,  and the Council of Laodicea’s edict officially changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

“On the venerable Day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain sowing or for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost” Constantine’s edict of 321 AD.

Following this edict from Constantine, the Roman Church Council of Laodicea around 364 AD instituted the following ordinance:

“Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday (Sabbath) but shall work on that Day: but the Lord’s Day, they shall especially honour; and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” Canon 29 of the council of Laodicea AD364

Canon 37 is also interesting in that it rejects the seven yearly festivals and Sabbaths as ordained by God in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.

Canon 37: No one shall accept festal presents from Jews and heretics or keep the festivals with them.”

Now, let’s see what God’s word has to say concerning the Sabbath and the yearly festivals. In Deuteronomy 6:8 and 11:18 God reminds the Hebrews that these were a sign (mark) between the frontlet of their eyes and upon their hand, as He told them 40 years earlier   in Exodus 13:9, and Exodus 31:13-17. Let’s look at this passage to see exactly what God originally told the children of Israel.

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for IT IS A SIGN (mark) BETWEEN ME AND YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, FOR A PERPETUAL COVENANT. 17 IT IS A SIGN (mark) between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

We see in these verses where God is telling the people that the seventh day Sabbath and the yearly Sabbaths are His sign or mark between Him and His people as a perpetual covenant. Perpetual means without ceasing, forever never ending, and later in Deuteronomy He reminds them that they were to bind them as a sign (mark)  between the frontlets of their eyes (the forehead) and upon their hand.

We now should understand that the mark of God is the true worship of Him through keeping His commandments, and statutes in obedience to His will and by doing so you have the mark of the living God in your forehead and upon your hand, not a physical mark, or  an electronic chip.

In Revelation 13:16 we are told of another mark to be upon man;  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:

In Revelation 13 we see a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, Daniel 7 describes this same beast with a smaller little horn coming up amongst the ten horns having eyes like a man and speaking great things.

Jumping ahead to Revelation 17, we see a woman decked in scarlet, wealthy and opulent in riches riding a scarlet-colored beast full of names of blasphemy. From our chart of Biblical symbols, we know  this is a religious order (church) holding massive political and religious power, filled with sin and corruption, going forth destroying any and all who oppose her doctrines.

Many theologians throughout history have identified this woman and beast as the Roman Catholic Church and its Papacy. She fits the description of Daniel and Revelation. The earlier reformers and protestants taught this as part of their doctrine, but beginning in the early to mid-1800’s,  Protestant churches  began moving away from teaching this prophecy as being relevant to the Church of Rome.

We have now looked at scripture identifying Gods mark as obedience to His laws and commandments by keeping them in our foreheads and showing our loyalty and obedience in worship to Him through our actions (hand), so then this should also be a reflection of the prophecy of Revelation 13:6 where the mark of the beast is introduced and all are forced to worship the beast through his mark on their forehead and or hand, and those not worshipping the beast by refusing to adhere to the mark should be killed.

In AD321 Constantine changed the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week and in AD364 the Church of Rome adopted this edict and made it,the seventh day Sabbath, and the annual feasts and Sabbaths officially unlawful  to follow, and over the centuries it has become  embedded in the protestant churches along with other pagan practices originating through the Roman Church.

Since we have identified the beast as the Roman Catholic Church and have shown that it changed Gods laws to benefit its agenda, I will provide a couple of quotes from the Catholic church to show their complete disregard of Gods laws and statutes. Most all Christian denominations today follow the agenda instituted by the Roman Catholic Church from AD364, and the Catholic Church boasts of changing Gods  Sabbath is their own doing, and not scripturally inspired.

Sunday is our MARK of authority… The Church is above the Bible, and the transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact….Catholic Record, September 1, 1923 (Ontario)

The Catholic Church changed the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday by right of the divine, infallible authority given to her by her Founder, Jesus Christ. The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday. In this matter the Sabbath keeper heretical groups are the only consistent Protestants. The Catholic Universe Bulletin, Aug. 14, 1942, p.4

Prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is the law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” The Catholic Church says no. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy 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—Thomas Enright, CSSR, President, Redemptorist  College (Roman Catholic), Kansas City, Mo., Feb.18,1864

We see in these quotes, and I have many more, from the Catholic Church showing their arrogant and boastful actions of changing Gods laws and His Holy Sabbath day from the seventh day to the first day SUNDAY as being their MARK of authority. So  in conclusion, if the Catholic Church has been identified as the beast described by Daniel, and John in the book of Revelation, as the one enforcing a MARK on all the earth, and those not accepting should not be able to buy or sell, and also should be killed, then those Christians who are presently observing Sunday as the Sabbath and rejecting the yearly feasts and Sabbaths, can be construed as  worshipping the image of the beast, and  have accepted the mark of the beast on their forehead as referenced by their actions of adhering to the beast’s mark through the deceptive teachings of the protestant churches, are worshipping the beast...

If a lie is only  printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and  if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief, a dogma, and men will die for it. Asa Blagden

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (see also Deut.13:1-4)

We are at the midnight hour, near to close of probation with very little time left to choose which mark we will abide by. You need to choose today who you will worship, MAN or GOD!

The choice is yours and you only have a short time to decide.

CHOOSE WISELY!

May God add a blessing to the going forth of His word and to those reading.

Paul Taylor

November 07,2021  ©copyright 2021 Paul Taylor all rights reserved worldwide scripture is KJV