MARK OF THE BEAST CRISIS REVEALED
Let’s revisit Revelation 13:11-14 and look at it carefully.
11 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. [Review: Who is this lamb-like beast? U.S.A]
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”
There are two key things that the lamb-like beast, America, does to build the platform for the mark of the beast crisis:
1) Causes the world to WORSHIP the beast, Papal Rome.
2) Makes an image of the beast, apostate Christian churches.
How? Remember, it will be done through deception and ENFORCEMENT of laws. These laws will be primarily pushed by apostate Christian churches in America who have gained political power with the support of Papal Rome. The Sunday counterfeit Sabbath is the main unifying doctrine that brings the beast, Papal Rome, and the image of the beast, apostate Christian churches, together. This unifying doctrine of Sunday sacredness will ignite and inflame the mark of the beast crisis in America and around the world.
15 “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 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:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Revelation 13:15-17 prophetically records the mark of the beast crisis. Look at its key components starting with verse 15. “He” representing America has authority to give “life” to the apostate Christian churches. How is “life” given to the image of the beast when the principle of the U.S. Constitution is the separation of church and state and liberty for all? Notice in the middle of verse 15 it says that “the image of the beast should both SPEAK and CAUSE.” “SPEAK” reveals that the apostate Christian churches who have become a reflection of Papal Rome, have gained significant political power in the United States’ legislative systems. In addition to the papacy’s “agents” who are already in legislative and judicial positions, the image of the beast will add even more. As a result, America with the approval of the majority of its citizens, gives legislative “life” to the apostate Christian churches, like Papal Rome. With the merging of church and state, they have power to legislate “religious” laws for the “common good” and “liberty.” These legislations with the political influence of the image of the beast “CAUSE” or make people “worship” them. How? It is through ENFORCEMENT. Those who refuse to worship as they have legislated are characterized as a small minority of “trouble-makers”, “extremist”, “terrorist”, and “hateful.” They are not able to buy or sell and eventually receive the death penalty. These “religious” laws are passed in the midst of MAJOR economic, social, political, moral, environmental, and violent crises.
Currently, many Christian churches in America have unified to build a formidable and powerful political infrastructure to influence elections and laws within the U.S. government. For example, The Gathering, a popular conference movement for the purpose of unifying Christians throughout America from various denominations, churches, and ministries says, “The church must again become the conscience of the government. Through its national solemn assembly it should clearly and respectfully call political leadership to God’s principles for government... It also means we must begin speaking with one voice so that the nation might see a unified church and not one that is fractured and scattered by differences in how we practice our faith.” - thegathering2016.com/about. There are many other Christian conferences and strategy sessions like these sweeping America to gain more political power.
We must keep in mind the prophecy of Revelation 13:15-17. When the popular and influential churches and ministries in America put away their differences and unite on doctrines that they have in common to influence the U.S. government to enforce their religious decrees and support their institutions, “then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” - Ellen White, Great Controversy, p. 445
authority. Sunday Sacredness along with it’s Eucharist is extremely serious to the papacy.
Let’s examine some excerpts from their “Catechism Of The Catholic Church” which is online at their official website, www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/ archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm, concerning “ARTICLE 3 – THE THIRD COMMANDMENT” referring the sabbath commandment:
“2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. ‘Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.’ ”
“2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice... Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”
Based on these two excerpts, Sunday holiness and the Eucharist (Mass) are two key components “at the heart” of Papal Rome’s “Lord’s Day” sabbath. They believe that ALL Christians, not just Catholics, are obligated to keep their day of worship and the Eucharist. If not it is a “grave sin.” As mentioned before, the Eucharist is extremely blasphemous and disrespectful to God. No true Christian should have anything to do with it. When the papacy uses the term “universal” with lower cased “u” which is the same word for “catholic,” they are referring to all Christians regardless of what affiliation or denomination a person belongs to. Remember Papal Rome believes that they are the only true original church in which they have “universal” authority over ALL Christians.
Let’s briefly look at a few more excerpts:
“2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day... In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.”
“2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society.”
“Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort” is a call for governments to legislate Sunday “sabbath” laws for “religious liberty and the common good of all.” “Public authorities should ensure a time off intended for rest and divine worship.” These public authorities include the legislators or judges who make and interpret the law and law enforcement who ENFORCE the law. For Sundays to be recognized as “legal holidays” also requires the government to legislate a religious doctrine. Papal Rome believes that a Sunday holy day legislation will not only benefit Christians but all people including non-Christians. It will be a time to “defend their tradition” and contribute to the “spiritual life of society.” This is extremely dangerous and a violation of the freedom of religion. But the legalization and enforcement of Sunday “sabbaths” is the goal of Papal Rome.
Pope John Paul II believed that the historical Sunday civil legislation of the Empire of Rome around the fourth century, that required Sunday as a legal weekly day off of work, was a great benefit to Christians. In his Apostolic letter entitled, Dies Domini (May 31, 1998) “On Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy”, he stated, “Christians rejoiced to see thus removed the obstacles which until then had sometimes made observance of the Lord’s Day heroic. They could now devote themselves to prayer in common without hindrance.” Then he continued to imply in the letter that Sunday legislation should not only be a thing of the past, but enforced in our modern times. He stated, “It would therefore be wrong to see in this legislation of the rhythm of the week a mere historical circumstance with no special significance for the Church and which she could simply set aside. Even after the fall of the Empire, the Councils did not cease to insist upon the arrangements regarding Sunday rest.” - Pope John II, Dies Domini, May 31, 1998, Section 64
Ellen White who also wrote much on this topic says, “The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance.