666 and the Mark of the Beast

Most Christians and in fact probably the majority of non-believers have heard about the Mark of the Beast as a figure of speech or heard that the Devil’s number is 666.

Where do we find out what the true meaning of 666 Mark of the Beast is? Is it something that we have to guess about or does the Bible reveal to us its true meaning?

Because the Bible tells us that the Mark of the beast will be on the forehead or the hand, many have assumed that this will be a physical mark such as a barcode or tattoo, and because we are told that those who don’t take the Mark of the Beast will not be allowed to buy to sell, others have concluded that the Mark of the Beast must then be a computer chip placed beneath the skin, which will allow people to purchase goods.

The book of Revelation, where the Mark of the Beast is spoken of, is greatly filled with symbolic language, and over two thirds of the book is either quoting or referencing other places in the Bible, either in the Old Testament or in Revelation itself. To understand the symbols used, you have to refer to the other passages that it is alluding to, to fill in the gaps and get the complete meaning of what is being said.

The symbolism of the hand and forehead is found in the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments He said Deuteronomy 6:6, 8 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts…Tie them as symbols on your HANDS and bind them on your FOREHEADS”.The KJV translates “on your foreheads” to “frontlets between thine eyes”, beign the same thing.

Moses also said, Deuteronomy 11:18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your HANDS and bind them on your FOREHEADS.”

God said that His Ten Commandment law was to be a sign upon our hands and foreheads. This did not mean that the Israelites where to have a tattoo or physical writing on their heads and hands, it simply symbolized that by their thoughts (forehead) and by their actions (hand) they were to show their allegiance to God, by following the directions He had given to them in His Commandments.

Therefore when Revelation talks about the Mark of the Beast going on the forehead or the hand, then this also means that at the end of time, people’s thoughts and actions will determine whether or not they receive the Seal of God or the Mark of the Beast.

The Mark of the Beast issue is also indicative of worship, whether we are worshiping God or worshiping and giving allegiance to the beast.

In Bible prophecy a beast is symbolic of a ruling power, king, kingdom or political religious power. Daniel 7:23 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces”.

At the end of time it relates to a political religious power which will be dominant world wide and demand worship which is opposite or opposed to the worship which God had demanded from His people.

There is a distinction made between God’s Remnant church and those who take the Mark of the Beast, this distinction is that God’s church follow all of His Commandments, which includes keeping the seventh day Sabbath. Revelation 12:17 says “the dragon was wroth with the woman (The Church), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” There are many other places in the Bible where God says outright that the Sabbath is a SIGN that it is Him that we worship.

Where Revelation speaks of those who don’t get the Mark of the Beast it specifically references the fourth commandment by quoting from it. Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 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, 10 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:”

Which Christian religious system who are already seeking worldwide religious domination, changed the fourth Commandment of God? Which religious system claim that their doctrines overrule those in the scriptures?

The Catholic Church says that the mark of their authority, is the fact that without scriptural support they changed the Seventh Day Sabbath of God to Sunday. Therefore, by their own admission, Sunday keeping (which is worshiping on a counterfeit day of worship, on the day that the pagans worship the Sun god) is their Mark. When they gain world domination as a political religious ruling power, then this shall become the Mark of the Beast.

The idea of the papal system of religion correlating to antichrist and the fourth beast of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 is not new. All of the early Protestant reformers who understood Bible prophecy had identified them as such. Following is just one of many quotes:

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) (Congregational Theologian): “The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them.” Taken from The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom’s book, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113.

Discusses the issue of the Mark of the Beast in Revelation Bible prophecy.

For more informationvisit http://www.666mark-of-the-beast.org/ Debra Lohrere is the author of Christian Prophecy and Investment books http://www.investmentpropertybooks.com/christianbooks.html and artist http://investmentpropertybooks.com/artwork.html

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