THE MARK OF THE BEAST

  CHAPTER 2

TIME OF THE MARK  

REVELATION 13

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:1,2.

The leopard beast of Revelation 13 is the same as the little horn power of Daniel Seven —papal Rome. The little horn came up among the ten kingdoms of Europe. The leopard beast came up "out of the sea"—which means that it arose among many peoples (waters in Bible prophecy symbolize people—Revelation 17:15). Both the great red dragon of chapter 12. and the leopard beast of chapter 3 have seven heads and ten horns,—identifying them both as Roman. The one is Satan working through pagan Rome, and the other is his activity through its successor, papal Rome. The terrible beast of Daniel 1 (pagan Rome) had ten horns, and then the little horn arose. And in the book of Revelation, the leopard beast, or papal Rome, follows the dragon beast, or pagan Rome. "The beasts of Daniel and John are empires. The ten horned beast is the Roman power. . The head is the governing body. The heads of this beast represent successive governments. —H.Grattan Guinness, Romanism and the Reformation, pp.144-145.

  The leopard beast had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion, thus combining the symbols of Daniel Seven in which a lion stood for Babylon, a bear for Medo-Persia, and the leopard for Grecia. And the leopard beast had seven heads and ten horns as Rome did. Thus as history confirms, the beliefs and practices of papal Rome are a hybrid or composite of the heathen religions of these ancient nations—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Many books have been written in the last one hundred years proving this. Roman Catholic writers admit it—the teachings and church organization of Catholicism is derived from ancient paganism. The papacy is the direct heir of the mystery religions of the east­ and especially of ancient Babylon. And so Bible prophecy described it as "Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots." Revelation 17:5.

"The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptized."...:A.C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, 1909 edition, p. 148. From ancient Babylon came the cult of the virgin mother-—goddess, who was worshiped as the highest of gods—see S.H. Langdon, Semitic Mythology, 1 ?31 edition. This worship was taken over as Mary worship by Rome. Heathen sun-worship on Sunday was like­wise adopted by the Roman apostasy.

Cardinal Newman lists many examples of things of "pa­gan origin" which the papacy brought into the church "in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen:" "The use of temples,. and these dedicated. to particular. saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; holy water; asylums [hermitages, —monasteries and convents]; [pagan] holydays, processions, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images,. . and the Kyrie Eleison." J.H. Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, 1920 edition, p. 373 {Roman Catholic}.

Just  after emperor Constantine of the Roman Empire decreed Sunday-keeping in the fourth century, he moved east and built Constantinople as his new capital. The western half of the empire was left more to the control of the pope. Then in 538, the emperor, Justinian, gave the pope still more civil and religious, authority over the nations,—and the 1260 years of papal supremacy began. The dragon (pagan .Rome) gave the leopard beast (papal Rome) its religious power, seat of government (the City of Rome, the largest and most important city in the world in the early centuries), and its civil or governmental authority. The word "see" used in the "Holy See" means "seat." And there the pope sits today, in the city of Rome; the seat of the ancient pagan empire. Pagan Rome gave papal Rome its seat or see.

"The removal of the capital of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople in 330, left the Western Church, practically free from imperial power, to develop its own form of organization. The Bishop of Rome, in the seat of the Caesars, was now the greatest man in the West, and was soon [when the barbarians overran the Empire] forced to become the political as well as the spiritual head."—A.C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, p. 168.

"Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left. . [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the Emperor's disappearance .: The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation; the empire has not perished, but has only undergone a transformation . . It, [the Catholic Church] is a political creation, and as imposing as a World—Empire, because it is a continuation of] the Roman Empire. The Pope, who calls himself 'King' and 'Pontifex Maximus' [the title of the Roman Emperor in the time of Christ] , is Caesar's successor;" —Adolf Hamack, What is Christianity?1903,pp. 269-270.

(Speaking of the time, about 500 A.D., when the Roman Empire was crumbling to pieces, "No, the [Catholic] Church will not descend into the tomb. It will survive the Empire. At length a second empire will arise, and of this empire, the Pope will be the master—more than this, he will be the master of Europe. He will dictate his orders to kings who will obey them." —Andrea Lagarde, The Latin Church in the Middle Ages,1915 p. vi.

  "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to 'death, and his deadly wound was healed—and an the world wondered after the beast." Revelation 13:3.

The wound took place the very year the 1260 Years ended—1798. Berthier, the French general under Napoleon entered Rome and took the pope, (Pius. VI) captive. He was hurried from prison to prison and died eighteen months, later in the French fortress of Valence. In 1870 another blow came to the papacy when Italy seized the city of Rome as its capital. The Pope became a voluntary "prisoner of the Vatican." But the deadly wound was to be healed. In 1929 Cardinal Gasparri met Premier Mussolini in the palace of St. John Lateran and the Treaty of the Vatican was signed, returning temporal power to the papacy, as it was again made into a kingdom with its own territory.

Even the world recognized the historic significance of this act. Its result .was to "heal a wound of 59 years," according to The Catholic Advocate of Australia, April 18, 1929, p. 16. The front page of the San Francisco Chronicle of February 12, 1929 carried pictures of Gasparri and Mussolini, signers of the concordat, with the headline, "Heal Wound of Many Years." The Associated Press dispatch said of the event, "In affixing the autographs to the memorable document, healing the wound which has festered since 1870, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides." Again, just before its final destruction, the papacy could say, "I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." Revelation 18:7 (Isaiah 47:7-15, Revelation 17:18).

In 1929 the Italian government recognized the Vatican City as an independent state. The pope was again a king. On March 9, 1929, the pope said, "The peoples of the entire world are with us:' Gradually the papacy is regaining power. "Yet since then [1798] the Papacy has been lifted to a pinnacle of spiritual power unreached it may be, since earliest Christian history."—The Modem Papacy, page 1 [Roman Catholic].

'This is the little horn power of Daniel Seven, that was to rule for "forty and two months" (Revelation 13:5), which equals 1260 days of prophetic years. And he . "opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Revelation­13:6. "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies." Revelation 13:5, compare Daniel 7:8,20, 25. By Claiming to be vicar of Christ on earth, he "sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

And he  was to "make war with the saints, and to over­come them, and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Revelation 13:7, Here is another view of the persecution of the true church in the wilderness through long ages of papal darkness (Revelation 12: 13.16), by that power that prophecy said would "wear out the saints of the most high." Daniel 7:25.

"During the 2,000 years the [Roman Catholic] Church has been on this earth, she has warred with nearly every government in this world. The world is full of their ruins. Their thrones have toppled over and fallen, their dynasties have come to dust. And the governments of the world today will meet the same fate if they challenge the hostility of the church of God. She remains; she is today what she was 2,000 years ago;  she is today what she was during the Middle Ages; she is today what she was during the times of Protestant persecution during and since the sixteenth century; she is the invincible church of God. God help the state that attacks her; God help the king that provokes her hostility."—from a sermon by the Catholic priest D.S.Phelanon Sunday, Dec. 12, 1909, published in the Roman Catholic (St. Louis) periodical, The Western Watchman, Dec. 16, 1909.

"Under these bloody maxims [Roman Catholic decrees to kill Protestants] those persecutions were carried on . . After the signal of open martyrdom had been given in the canons of Orleans, there followed the extirpation of the [French] AIbigenses, under the form of a crusade, the establishment of the inquisition, the cruel attempts to extinguish the [Swiss] WaIdenses, the martyrdoms of the [English] Lollards, the cruel wars to exterminate the Bohemians, the burning of Huss and Jerome, and multitudes of other confessors, before the Reformation; and afterwards, the ferocious cruelties practiced in the Netherlands, the martyrdoms of Queen Mary's reign, the extinction by fire and sword of the reformation in Spain and Italy, by fraud and open persecution in Poland, the massacre of Bartholomew, the persecution of the [French] Huguenots by the [Catholic] League,.. and all the cruelties and perjuries connected with the revocation of the edict of Nantes [in France].. These are the more open and conspicuous facts which explain the prophecy [of Daniel Seven], besides the slow and secret murders of the holy tribunal of the inquisition."—T.R. Birks "The Four Prophetic Empire" 1845 ed., pp. 248-249. ..

This Apostasy of the Dark Ages is to have a marvelous revival of power in the near future. "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man hear, let him hear. "Revelation 13:8-9. But of this, we shall learn more later in this study.

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a Iamb, and he spake as a dragon," Revelation 13:11.

The previous beast came up out of the sea, " indicating it would arise in an area of many "peoples and nations and tongues," for this is what water symbolizes (Revelation 11 :15). But this second beast was to come up out of the "earth" in an area comparatively low in population. 1n 1798, when the Papal power received its deadly wound, the United Stales, located in the western continent, was the only great world power then coming into prominence in such a relatively uninhabited territory. Only nine years previously (in 1789), the United States had adopted its national constitution. It is within the territory of the United States that we are to look for a fulfillment of this prophecy.

John Wesley in his note on Revelation 13:11, written in 1754, says of the two-homed or second beast of Revelation 13: "He is not yet come, though he cannot" far off. For he is to appear at the end of the forty-two months of the first beast." _John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1791 edition, vol. 3, p. 299.

"A prominent writer, describing the rise of the United States, speaks of .the 'the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy and says, like a silent seed we grew into empire." [G.A..Townsend, The New World Compared with the Old, 1869, p.462). A European journal in 1850 spoke of the United States as a wonderful empire, which was 'emerging' and 'amid the silence of the earth daily adding to its power and pride.' (The Dublin Nation)."—Great Controversy, p. 440.

"He had two horns like a Iamb." Revelation 13:11. The nations of the past were pictured in the Bible as beasts of prey, filled with intolerance, persecution and oppression. In contrast, the United States was founded upon the principles of civil and religious liberty, equality and tolerance. These principles were written into the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. For many years those who sought relief from persecution and strife, sought its shores.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of Speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for, a redress of grievances:'— The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, in United States Code, 1958 edition, p. 46.

"The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or nonattendance. . No tax in any amount, large Or small, can be levied to support any religious activity or institutions" whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, Openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the Words Of Jefferson, the clause against establishment Of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall Of separation between Church and State: "—US. Supreme Court Decision, Everson v. Board of Education, 330 US. 1 (Feb. 10, 1947), in US. Reports, pp. 15-16.

"And he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11. The voice of intolerance and persecution. We would rather that such might never happen in this free land. But farseeing states­men have long recognized that the tendency to enforce religious dogmas by civil law is all too common with mankind, and is liable to break out in active persecution in unexpected places unless specifically guarded against.

"And 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. And he doeth great wonders. . 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, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 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." Revelation 13:12-16.

  Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to a Jewish rabbi: "Your universal spirit of religious intolerance is inherent in every sect . . Our laws have applied the antidote to the vice . . but more remains to be done; for although we are free by the law, we are not so in practice. Public opinion erects itself into an Inquisition, and exercises its office with as much fanaticism as fans the flames of an auto da fe [a burning of heretics] ."­Letter to Mordecai M. Noah, May 28, 1818, Thomas Jefferson Papers voL 213, p. 37988. Library of Congress.

The "first beast before him". —Papal Rome—was foremost is persecuting all who differed with it in religious matters. This second beast will be empowered by Satan to work apparent miracles to win the multitudes to follow its dictates. And it will cause an image of the first beast to be made. The first beast—the Papacy—was a combining of church and state, that then used its civil powers to crush all opposition to its religious decree.

An image, or duplicate, of this beast is to be made—for the purpose of opposing the principles and laws of God, an image that will seek to destroy all who stand in its way. Those who do not accept the dictates of this image—beast will be ordered slain. We are here viewing the basics of an immense crisis that is to occur in our time.

"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. 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 13:16-17.

In order to understand the methods and objectives of the image-beast, we must understand those of the beast. We find these policies and aims listed in Daniel 7 :25. "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws." The objectives given here are three in number: 1—Blasphemy against God by pretending to assume power that belongs to Him alone. 2—Persecution of the people of God because they will not accept these blasphemous claims and its religious teachings. 3—An attempt to 'change the laws of God ­especially His "time" law and to enforce these changes upon all men.

This is the basis of the image beast of Revelation Thirteen. This is the reason for the persecution and the crisis described there. This is the key to an understanding of the Mark of the Beast.

The Mark of the Beast is based on worship (Revelation 13: 15). The worship of God on the Seventh-day Sabbath is the most rejected law of God in our day. The test of the final crisis will be centered around this issue. Will we obey man or God? Men will be marked. Sunday worship will be the deciding factor. This will be the basis for deciding who will buy or sell. Those who refuse to disobey God's Time Law—the Seventh-day Sabbath will be persecuted for not accepting the mark of loyalty to earthly powers. It will be decreed that they must die. In that day, only God will be the defense and Protector of His people. The prayer of His people will be, "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work,—for they have made void Thy law." Psalm 119:126. 

It will have come to pass that which has not occurred since the time of Noah—the whole world will be opposed to a small group who alone stand in defense of the God of Heaven and His laws. At such a time, if God were to wait longer,—righteousness and truth and the people of God would be wiped from the face of the earth. The time will have come for God to step in.

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks. Does the Pope accord a favor or pronounce an anathema? It. is Jesus Christ who pronounces the anathema or accords the favor. So that when the Pope speaks we have no business to examine. We have only to obey. We have no right to criticize his direction or discuss his commands."—The Archbishop of Venice, prior to becoming Pope Pius X. 

"We have taken this principle for a basis: that the Catholic religion with all its rites ought to be exclusively dominant, in such sort that every other worship shall be banished and interdicted. It is a cause of supreme bitterness to the heart of the Holy Father [the pope] not to be able otherwise to impose a limit to so much evil, as he certainly would if he could make use of other means to bridle their insane license." —Pope Pius IX.. 

"The Adventists are the only body of Christians with the Bible as their teacher, who can find no warrant in its pages for the change of day from the seventh to the first. . Reason and common sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible." Catholic Mirror, Sept. 2 and Dec. 23, 1893 {This Baltimore journal was at that time the official organ of Cardinal Gibbons}. .

OUTLINE OF REVELATION THIRTEEN

1-2— The leopard-like beast with seven heads and ten horns arises out of the sea. He is easily identified by his names of blasphemy. (John the Revelator is here given yet another vision of this hideous beast that would spend long ages in the destruction of God's truth and His people.) And the dragon gave him his power, seat and great authority.

3 — The wounding of the head of the leopard-like beast. (This took place in A.D. 1798, when General Berthier took the pop. captive and he died in exile the following year. The 1260 yean had come to an end.).

3-4 — But—later—all the world would again stand in awe of the Beast when his wound is healed. And the world will worship the Beast at that time..

5 — The length of time that this terrible beast would have power, prior to being wounded, also identifies. it: It would continue for 42 months, which equals 1260 days or prophetic years (A.D. 538 to 1798).

6-7 — Still another identifying mark would be its persecuting power which was to continue for so long a period of time (Carefully read Revelation U:5.7 with Daniel 7:25. Both are parallel and speak about the same power).

8-9 — All will, in the last days, bow down before him except the faithful. Listen and be warned of what is coming. But the promise is given that the enemies of God's people will finally be broken without remedy—Babylon will fall (Rev 13:10 and Rev 17-18). .

11-14 — A second beast would arise—this one from the "earth," where few. people are located. At first, lamblike, but later fierce as a dragon,. it would eventually unloose the terrible engines of destruction against the righteous as the first beast before it had done for so many centuries. And this beast will be empowered to do wonders that all will bow down before.

14-15 — The second beast will make an image to the first beast, and obedience will be commanded on pain of death.

15-18 — Here is wisdom: Learn the meaning of the Mark of the Beast. Learn it now . . while there is still time.