Revelation 13:11, “And 1 beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.”
According to Bible prophecy, the greatest crisis in the history of this world is just before us. A decree will be passed by the governments threatening economic boycott and death to those who refuse to worship the image of the beast. The following prophetic words will soon become a reality: “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. 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 13:15-17.
There is no getting around it: every person living during earth’s last hours will be faced with the decision either to obey God or to worship another power.
Those who pay homage to the beast and his image will be condemned by God and receive the seven last plagues. In Revelation 14, verses 9 and 10, we read, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” This is a matter of life or death. Therefore, we must know exactly what this mark is and how we can avoid it.
The mark of the beast is opposed to the seal of God. In Revelation chapter 7, verses 2 and 3, we learn that the seal of God is placed in the forehead, just as the mark of the beast is set in the forehead. Now we ask, what is the seal? If we can define and establish this point, it will help us identify the mark.
In His Word, God tells us what His sign or seal is. “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Ezekiel 20:12. Here the Sabbath is called the sign of God. Is that the same as seal? Romans 4:11 shows that ‘seal’ and ‘sign’ are the very same thing, being used interchangeably in the Scripture, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.”
God said that the Sabbath is His sign or mark of authority. What does the beast say is the mark of its authority? Let us consider these words by C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath. “Of course, the Catholic church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.”
It is almost incredible that the majority of Christendom accepts and follows the traditions of a man-made institution.
Does anyone today have the mark of the beast? The answer is, “Absolutely not.” But the mark of the beast will be enforced very soon.
Therefore, in mercy, God sendsout His final warning to prepare people for the coming crisis. The issue of the conflict will be whether to give God the homage or whether to obey a man-made law. In Revelation chapter 14, verses 9 through 11, we read the most solemn warning ever given to mankind. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
The counterfeit mark cannot be officially received until it is enforced by the two-horned beast of Revelation 13 (America). The United States of America will become a persecuting power that will pass a national Sunday law. This act will initiate other nations to follow suit. The Bible says, “…and all the world wondered after the Beast.” Revelation 13:3. The whole world, except a minority of faithful souls, will observe Sunday, the child of the Papacy. Those who refuse to obey will be accused of law- breaking and of working against the state.
In order for this situation to develop, the constitution of the United States must either be altered or completely abandoned. How is this possible in a land of freedom? One way is to call for a constitutional convention. It takes 34 states to request this. As of now, 32 states are for it. Besides this movement to bring about specific changes in our fundamental laws, there are groups such as the Moral Majority, the New Liberty Federation, and the Lord’s Day Alliance who have been advocating the passage of Sunday laws. The undercurrent of these voices is moving rapidly to achieve a desired goal–to get people back to going to church on Sunday.
Before me is a copy of a letter written by a Protestant minister who clearly states the intentions of Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority. “As many of you know, I recently had a personal talk with Jerry Falwell. I read to him the quote in the ‘Catholic Twin Circle’ which says that we should petition the President and Congress for a national Sunday law. I asked questions about his views on this subject and about President Reagan. He told me that he goes along with it, and indicated that he is willing to ‘fight’ for Sunday. He has said in the past, ‘I have a divine mandate to go right into the halls of Congress and fight for laws to save America.’”
The coercive Sunday law will seem to be the solution to the awful problems facing the U.S.A. “It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced.
“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth.” The Great Controversy, pp. 590, 592.
God’s elect will soon be accused of causing the tidal waves of lawlessness, natural catastrophes, and political corruptions. Consider, for a moment, the following headline which appeared in the Newsweek magazine, February 9, 1987: “Urban Murders: On the Rise; The Drug Crisis.” Is not this headline alarming? Isn’t the public willing to try to find a remedy for these two major problems–drugs and crime?
In addition to these concerns, many people are outraged and shocked by all the scandals involving political leaders. America is experiencing one crisis after another. Where is it all leading to?
What next?
For the Protestant churches, the solution will be to enact a Sunday law to counteract all these evils. According to Revelation 13:11 -16, the Protestant churches in America will be instrumental in exalting the Papal Sabbath (Sunday) and waging war against Sabbath (Saturday) keepers.
Yes, religious freedom will be taken away. Persecution will raise its ugly head again.
“Some time ago, the President of the Lord’s Day Alliance was on nation-wide T.V. This sincere man said, ‘We aim to put Sunday worship on the same basis exactly as the seventh-day Sabbath was in the days of the children of Israel.’ Someone, obviously shocked by this statement, spoke up and said something to the effect that back in the days of Israel they were under a theocracy, and not a democracy. They reminded the speaker that under certain circumstances in the old days when a man broke the Sabbath he was put to death (as well as for breaking the other commandments, such as committing murder.) Then the person asked the guest this question: ‘Do you mean that you want to go that far…if a person doesn’t keep Sunday, he’ll be put to death?’ The religious leader said, ‘That’s exactly what I mean. That’s what we’’re asking for!’” National Sunday Law, by Jan Marcussen, pp. 52-53.
“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” The Great Controversy, p. 588.
The above quotation clearly indicates that Protestant America will trample on the rights of conscience and will unite with spiritualism and Romanism.
One instance when the hand of unity reached over the abyss was when the U. S. government established diplomatic ties with the Vatican. The bond that will eventually end in a forced Sunday law is becoming closer and stronger. Today the ecumenical movement is taking giant steps for Christendom to achieve full unity.
More than ever before, we need to draw closer in unity with Christ rather than be involved in state-church unity. With this in mind, won’t we choose to obey God and keep the true Sabbath now and in the coming and final crisis?