MARK OF GOD VS. MARK OF THE BEAST
Now let’s complete the study on the third angel message and the mark of the beast crisis. Here it is! At this point you should have a foundational understanding of Babylon, the beast, image of the beast, and the lamb-like beast with two horns. All of these are key players in the mark of the beast crisis.
The first part of the third angel’s message in Revelation 14:9 warns that if ANY person worships the beast and the image of the beast, that person WILL receive the mark of the beast in his forehead or hand.
1) The mark of the beast is a “mark” of Papal Rome
2) The mark of the beast is a unifying doctrine that brings all in Babylon together led by Papal Rome (the beast) and all apostate fallen churches (image of the beast).
Now it is time to completely learn and understand the mark of the beast crisis. Are you ready? You must be in humble prayer as God continues to expose you to Bible truth.
FOREHEAD: What’s behind the forehead? The frontal lobe of the brain. This is the reasoning control center of the brain. This is where we make conscious decisions. Those who have the mark of the beast in the foreheads, have the character of the beast. They wholeheartedly believe in the deceptions of the beast as fact.
HAND: The mark of the beast in the hand represents conforming to the demands of the beast because of fear of persecution, hunger, or death.
Satan’s counterfeit church system is connected to Babylon, the beast, and its image. The mark of the beast is her official identifying “mark” on ALL those who worship the beast and its image. The mark of the beast crisis is connected to false worship. A micro-chip under your skin or a bar code on your literal forehead or hand is not the mark of the beast.
According to Strong’s Greek dictionary, “mark” is “charagma” which means “a scratch or etching, that is, stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue): - graven, mark.” The Greek word “charagma” is where we get the English word “character.” In Greek, a “kharaktēr” spelled as “character” in English “was a stamping tool, used to give something a distinctive mark.” -www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/character. In the Greek, “character” literally means “an engraved mark,” something that cannot be easily changed or erased like letters engraved in stone. This “engraved mark” reveals who you are. The way your character is formed begins with your thoughts. Your thoughts influence your feelings; happy, sad, excited, or depressed. Your feelings directly influence your behavior or actions. Your behavior develops habits. Your habits, the things you do over and over again, form or “stamps” your character. This is the reason why it is very important to guard your thoughts, feelings, habits, and actions. Remember, each one is the “etching” or “stamping” tool that forms your character.
Psalm 1:5 - “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:12 - “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Jesus came to transform “re-stamp” our characters in the likeness of Him.
Romans 12:2 - “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Jesus came to save us from our sin. He came to totally transform our characters. Satan wants our characters to remain in sin. Those who remain in sin, who are stamped with the character of sin, worship the one who is responsible for sin, Satan. Your character will determine who you truly worship. Your character will determine if you will receive the mark of the beast or not. Who is “stamping” your character?
Revelation 14:1 - “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
“Name” in Greek is “onoma” which means, authority or character. God’s faithful will have His character “engraved” within them. As a result, Revelation 14:5 says, “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Those who have the character of God will be found perfect through the blood of Jesus Christ, standing before the throne of God.
The mark of the beast reveals the true character of the Papal Rome and the dragon it truly worships. The “mark” of the beast is a distinctive mark of Papal Rome that cannot be claimed by anyone else. Remember, Satan always has a counterfeit to everything that God has that is genuine. Satan’s counterfeit may look like the truth, it may smell like the truth, even taste like the truth, but if one word does not line up with the Truth of God’s Word it is still a lie. Satan is the master of mixing truth and lies. He may add a lot of truth to his counterfeits, but his one drop of lie makes the whole thing a lie. The mark of the beast is a counterfeit “mark” to God’s genuine “mark.” This genuine “mark” is a distinctive mark claimed by God’s faithful people.
If we clearly identify God’s mark on His people, we know that Satan has a counterfeit mark close behind. Let’s briefly go to Revelation 7:1-3.
1 “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
Revelation 7:1-3 is a response to Revelation 6:17 which ask a very profound question, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” In Revelation 7:1 the “wind” in this prophetic context is strife and chaos in the very last days. More specifically it is the seven last plagues described in Revelation chapter 16. The seven last plagues are also known as the great time of trouble that will happen right before the coming of Jesus Christ. God instructs His four angels to hold these “winds” of destruction until all the “servants of our God” are sealed with the “seal of the living God” in their foreheads. The ONLY ones who are going to be able to stand during the seven last plagues and at the second coming of Jesus are those who are sealed with the living seal of God.
Seal of the Living God, A Seal of Authentication & Preservation
“Seal” according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary is “sphragis” which means “a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively: - seal.”
Governments use a seal as a mark of authenticity of an official document or law. According to Wikipedia.com, “A seal is a device for making an impression in wax, clay, paper, or some other medium, including an embossment on paper, and is also the impression thus made. The original purpose was to authenticate a document.” For example, a notary uses a stamp that makes an official impression on a document to authenticate and certify that you personally signed for the title of your car that proves that you own it.
When you want to complete a deal such as buying a house you cannot “seal the deal” without your unique signature that is seen as a mark or seal that you agree with this contract or deal. You are said to have “sealed the deal” with your signature.
The Greek definition of “seal” also implies that it protects as a fence from “misappropriation” or being unlawful. The seal protects it from corruption or spoilage. Those who are sealed with the seal of the living God in their forehead have the law of God stamped and etched in their hearts. It is a part of their characters. All who are sealed