Chapter 15: The Mark of the Beast



How does John the revelator warn us against receiving the mark of the beast?
                  Revelation 14: 9, 10--A third angel followed them and said in a loud
       voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the 
       forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury...
                  Revelation 16: 2--The first angel went and poured out his bowl
       on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark
       of the beast and worshiped his image.

How will Satan threaten those who refuse the mark of the beast?
                  Revelation 13: 11, 15-17--Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. 
       He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon...He was given power to 
       give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all
       who refused to worship the beast to be killed...

What is the mark of the beast?
                  "John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the 
       beast or his image by keeping the first day of the week.  The observance of this day 
       is the mark of the beast" (TM 133).
                  "The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day 
       Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of Creation...The mark of the beast is the opposite of
       this--the observance of the first day of the week" (8T 117).
                  "The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath" (Ev 234).
                  "When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is.
       It is the keeping of Sunday" (7BC 980).

How many people did Mrs. White say had the mark of the beast?
                   "No one has yet received the mark of the beast" (Ev 234 [1899]).

When will the mark of the beast be received?  Will this be before or after the close
of probation?  Will it be possible for anyone to slip past the close of probation 
without receiving either the seal of God or the mark of the beast?
                   "The testing time has not yet come.  There are true Christians in every
       church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion.  None are condemned until they 
       have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment.  But when
       the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the
       third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line 
       will be clearly drawn between the false and the true.  Then those who still continue 
       in transgression will receive the mark of the beast" (Ev 234, 235).
                   "If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath 
       of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God
       for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false sabbath, refusing to keep
       holy the Sabbath which God calls 'My holy day,' you receive the mark of the beast.  
       When does this take place?  When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from
       labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible
       showing Sunday to be other than a common working day, you consent to receive the mark
       of the beast, and refuse the seal of God.
                   "If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgements
       pronounced against the disobedient must fall upon us.  But the seal of the living God
       is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord" (RH July 13, 
       1897 [7BC 980; see also Ev 235]).
                   "While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers,
       receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine
       authority, receive the seal of God" (ibid. 605).




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