Posted by Brother Jerry (Geno) Berry
February 26, 2013 -
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979 views
Yahuwah’s great heart of love yearns over His earthly children. In His infinite wisdom and foreknowledge, He has provided intriguing glimpses into the near future by the use of symbols. These are given to prepare His people so that none may be deceived during the closing days of earth’s history. One of the least understood, yet most intriguing, symbols used in prophecy is the “mark of the beast.”
“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, 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. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:16-18, NKJV)
The dire warnings against all who receive this dreaded mark have inspired both fear and speculation in the hearts of many.
“If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of [Yahuwah], 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. 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.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
It is widely taught that the mark of the beast will be a computer chip, surgically implanted under the skin, by a totalitarian government wishing to exercise total control over its citizens. Some have speculated the mark was tied to bar codes or even the social security numbers used in the United States. In fact, the beast's mark is much broader and far more menacing than bar codes, social security numbers or implanted RFID chips.
It is imperative that all have a clear understanding of just what constitutes the mark of the beast and how to avoid receiving it because all who do receive it will receive the divine sentence of eternal death. To understand the beast's mark, it is first necessary to understand who, or what, is the beast. Bible scholars widely agree that beasts are prophetic symbols of world-wide political powers:
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” (Daniel 7:17, KJV)
Not just any geo-political power is symbolized in Scripture as a beast, however. Prophecy focuses on those powers which have warred against Yahuwah in the person of His saints. Thus, the beast which imposes a “mark” is also a world-wide power that will wage war against the Kingdom of Heaven just before Yahushua returns.
As presented in The Beasts of Revelation 13 video series, the first beast of Revelation 13 symbolizes the papacy which, for 1,260 years ruled Christendom with an iron fist.
The second beast of Revelation 13 is the United States which, by the sure word of prophecy, in the near future will enforce a “mark” of an image of the first beast.
The “mark” of papal supremacy, by their own admission, is Sunday worship:
"Sunday is our mark of authority . . . ." (The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, September 1, 1923.)
All battles against the Kingdom of Heaven have always centered upon worship. From the very beginning, Lucifer’s long-standing goal was to usurp the worship due the Creator. Scripture records of his boastful plans:
“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! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of [Elohim]; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ ” (Isaiah 14:12-14, NKJV)
The mark of the beast revolves around the issue of worship because the entire great controversy between Yahuwah and Satan revolves around worship. This is underscored by the fact that those who receive the seven last plagues are those who have received the beast's mark and who worship its image:
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of [Yahuwah] on the earth.’ So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.” (Revelation 16:1, 2)
In Satan’s attempt to steal the worship due the Creator alone, he has united the world in using a papal solar calendar, founded upon a pagan method of time-keeping. Without the correct calendar, it is impossible to establish the correct day of worship. Thus, all who seek to worship Yahuwah but who calculate their day of worship by a false calendar are, in ignorance, actually paying homage to Yahuwah’s enemy.
The mark of the beast is received when a person, with full knowledge of the truth, clings to false days of worship as more convenient in modern society than worshipping the Creator on His holy Sabbath, calculated by His original method of time-keeping, the luni-solar calendar. Some Saturday-sabbatarians have leveled the charge that Sunday worship is the beast's mark. It is. But so is worship on Saturday, or going to Mosque on Friday. Any effort to return worship on a day established by Satan, gives honor only to Satan.
It is here that the mark is received. Yahuwah’s holy days cannot be found by any counterfeit method of time-keeping.
Whether the current Gregorian calendar is universally accepted and enforced, or some future modification of it, the mark of the Papacy (beast) is received when one knows of the true Sabbath yet clings to worship days calculated by Satan’s counterfeit methods of time-measurement.
From the 1920s-1950s, there was great agitation for a reform of the Gregorian calendar. In recent years, the proposal to revamp the calendar has again been raised. Whether Satan imposes the mark via the current calendar or some modified form is immaterial. The mark of the beast is received when Yahuwah’s sacred days are calculated by any other method than that of the luni-solar calendar established at Creation. In every culture and in every land, the mark may differ slightly. But it will be something which compels the conscience to rebel against the law of Yahuwah. It is simplistic to think that a dominating world power will have only one way to exert control across the wide and varied cultures of earth.
In contrast to the beast's dreadful mark stands the seal of Yahuwah.
“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living [Elohim]. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels . . . saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our [Eloah] on their foreheads.’ ” (Revelation 7:2-3)
The seal of Yahuwah is received when a person makes a full and complete surrender to His Creator. This transformation of character is seen in a willingness to obey ALL of Yahuwah’s requirements. Only those who have made this surrender will receive the seal of Yahuwah which protects them from receiving the mark of the beast. Scripture urges all: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in [the anointed, Yahushua].” (Philippians 2:5, KJV) The mind of Yahushua was one of total surrender to the will of His Father. In Gethsemane He prayed: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
The mark of the beast and the seal of Yahuwah stand in stark contrast to each other. One is a symbol of total loyalty to Satan and can be received in either the forehead or the hand, showing that some will conform for the sake of expediency. The seal of Yahuwah, however, is received only in the forehead, representing total surrender, loyalty and obedience to the Creator. Those who receive the seal of Yahuwah will have the mind of Yahushua fully formed within them. The seal of Yahuwah is revealed in obedience to ALL of His requirements, including worship on the seventh-day of the week, calculated by His original luni-solar calendar.
The calendar is much more than just a method for time-measurement. The luni-solar calendar of Creation is an integral part of the divine law because without it, it is impossible to calculate Yahuwah’s holy days. All who live their lives in obedience to the divine law and receive the seal of Yahuwah will be regulating their lives by the original calendar, worshipping their Creator at His appointed times. No counterfeit method of time-keeping can be used to establish Heaven’s holy days. Thus, all who worship on days calculated by counterfeit systems of time-keeping, will receive the mark of the beast. The mark is received by any who reject full surrender to Yahuwah and refuse Him obedience. This is the mind of Satan fully formed within which is rebellion.
All who receive the seal of Yahuwah, will be preserved from the destruction coming upon those who receive the mark of the beast.
“And He called to the man . . . who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; . . . ‘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.’
“To the others He said . . ., ‘Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders who were before the temple.” (Ezekiel 9:3-6, NKJV)
It should be the study of every person who desires eternal life, to know Yahuwah’s requirements. If the heart is stubborn and wants to cling to sin, there is a Saviour willing and able to transform even the hardest of hearts.
Now, while probationary time still lingers, choose to surrender your will to Yahuwah and obey Him, no matter what the cost. He will wonderfully transform the mind of all who come to Him in faith.
An eternal life, pleasures beyond our ability to grasp await all who receive the seal of Yahuwah and gain victory over the beast, his image and his mark:
“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 [Yahuwah]. They sing the song of Moses . . . and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, [Yahuwah Elohim] Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!’ ” (Revelation 15:2, 3)
