There is a science of Christianity to be mastered, a science much deeper, broader, and higher than any human science—higher as the heavens are higher than the earth.
“The terms, mark, and sign are synonymous in signification, both in being defined by the dictionary, and by the word token. The Scriptural use of the term seal is the same. As proof of this, I refer to Romans 4:11, where Paul affirms of Abraham, that ‘he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.’ Again, the word rendered seal in Revelation 7:2, the common version, is rendered sign by other translators: having the sign of the living God.’ In verse 3. ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed [signed] the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ But in Ezekiel 9:4, we read, ‘Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.’
“Thus, these terms are used interchangeably in the Scriptures. Hence, the mark of the beast is his sign, seal, or token; and the seal of God is His mark or sign. These are not literal marks in the flesh, of course; but religious institutions or observances which will serve as marks of distinction between the worshippers of the beast and the worshippers of the true and living God. . . . They are institutions that stand, as rivals, directly opposed to each other.” –R.F. Cottrell, Mark of the Beast, and Seal of the Living God
Those who receive the seal of God, have the Lamb’s ‘Father’s name written in their foreheads.’ Revelation 14:1. Those who receive the mark of the beast, receive the ‘mark of his name.’ Verse 11. Name is used in a figurative sense to denote authority.
In Revelation chapter 13 an identifying “mark” that represents submission to the authority of the first, or leopard-like beast is mentioned, during the time of its eschatological revival, when an attempt is made to extend its authority over the entire world. In the imagery of the chapter, the first beast represents a human religious system allied with the supernatural powers of evil, and opposed to God in the person of those on earth who choose to be loyal to Him (vs. 1, 2, 7). The second, or lamblike beast, is presented as the agent by which the authority of the first beast is made universal (v. 12). The device used to force compliance is to require a “mark” of allegiance of all on their foreheads (mental assent) or in their hand (outward conformity). The announced alternative to compliance is the application of extreme economic sanctions, and eventually the death penalty (v. 15–17). In Revelation, the mark of the beast stands in contradistinction to the seal of God (Revelation 7:2–4).
“In place of God’s seal or mark, we have Sunday attached to the law. It does not point out the living God, but claims to be instituted on the authority of the Papal church. Yea, it points to the Pope. It is ‘the mark of the beast.’ The two-horned beast [United States] is to cause all ‘to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.’ We do not suppose that this is a mark, visible on the forehead; but . . . it is Sunday. The forehead is the seat of the mind. There the decision is made by men whether they will keep this institution or not. This mark is also to be received in the right hand.” –J.N. Loughborough, The Two-Horned Beast.
“To receive the mark of the beast in the forehead is to understand, to give the assent of the mind and judgment to his [the first beast’s] authority, in the adoption of that institution which constitutes the mark; to receive it in the hand is to signify allegiance by some outward act.
The mark is the mark, not of the two-horned beast, nor of the image of the beast, but of the papal beast.” –The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 20, November 11, 1862. The mark of the beast is understood to be a counterfeit Sabbath which is erected in opposition to the Sabbath of Jehovah, the seal of the living God.
“The pope has changed the day of rest from the seventh to the first day. He has thought to change the very commandment that was given to cause man to remember his Creator. He has thought to change the greatest commandment in the Decalogue and thus make himself equal with God, or even exalt himself above God. The Lord is unchangeable, therefore His law is immutable; but the pope has exalted himself above God, in seeking to change His immutable precepts of holiness, justice, and goodness. He has trampled underfoot God’s sanctified day, and, on his own authority, put in its place one of the six laboring days. The whole nation has followed the beast, and every week they rob God of His holy time. The pope has made a breach in the holy law of God, but I saw that the time had fully come for this breach to be made up by the people of God and the waste places built up [Isaiah 58:12–14].” –Early Writings, p. 65. Men are to choose between the two, and this choice decides their destiny. O, solemn message! Our eternal all is dependent upon the choice we make! And we are the people to whom this message is sent. The last call of mercy has reached our ears! Save thy people, O Lord!
God is warning us not to worship the beast, its image, and to receive its mark. “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 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 whoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9–11. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12
“This is the most solemn warning that the Bible contains. As the pen of inspiration has recorded this language for our instruction, it will be wise for us to listen and obey. It is certain that the record of our world’s history presents no testimony that this message has been heard in the past. And the fact that the first and second angels of this series have been proved to belong to the present generation, most clearly establishes the point that this message does not belong to past ages. Said J. V. Himes in 1847” –J.N. Andrews, The Three Angels of Revelation 14:6–12
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Deuteronomy 6:5–8
Marking the forehead (frontlets) symbolizes shaping one’s thoughts and beliefs with God’s law. Christians are encouraged to share the mind of Christ and to think like Jesus by sharing His humility and desire to love and serve one another.
The false prophet, the image of the beast, relates to the second beast of Revelation Chapter 13 (USA) when it compels obedience to the Papacy. It is therefore a religious entity in league with civil powers (Revelation 13:11–14, 16). The false prophet will support the Papacy and deceive the people into accepting papal worship in the form of the mark of the beast (Revelation 19:20). In Revelation Chapter 19, where the false prophet is described, it will be seen that his details correspond with the description of the image to the beast of Revelation 13:12–17. The image of the beast will comprise the Protestant churches of America united with the American political powers. When this union eventuates, one can clearly understand how the false prophet and the image of the beast could be regarded as identical.
The Occult at Work
The image of the beast, the false prophet, will be formed when apostate Protestants unite with civil powers to enact religious laws which will violate conscience. This union will constitute another papacy, hence the term image to the beast. It follows then that if the spirits of devils are to come out of the mouth of the false prophet, they must first enter the non-Catholic, Protestant churches and take control. Spiritism has a far greater degree of influence in the Protestant churches than is generally realized. For many decades, their leaders have demonstrated a favorable attitude towards Spiritism. This is to be expected when most of the clergy cling to the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, upon which Spiritism is based.
A striking example of the infiltration of Spiritism into Protestantism is the charismatic movement. Hundreds of thousands of sincere people are led to believe that they receive the Holy Spirit by purportedly speaking in tongues. The evidence, however, shows that the power involved in this movement is a form of Spiritism, an impersonation of the Holy Spirit. The charismatic movement is pervading both Protestant and Catholic Churches. Their aim is to unify all Christians and lead them toward Rome, according to Revelation chapter 16. The spirits of devils will unite the whole world. We will witness prolific manifestations of Spiritism in the future within the non-Catholic churches as well as the political leadership of the world.
According to the book “The Great Controversy” we see the order in which the three powers—the dragon, beast, and false prophet—unite with Spiritism. “The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they [Protestants and Spiritism] will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power [Papacy]; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country [USA] will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” –The Great Controversy, p. 588
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13–14. These verses make it clear that after Spiritism unites with and takes possession of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, they combine to deceive the whole of mankind and to unite them against God.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
“Only those who receive the seal of the Living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God, who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the Living God. They trust in their own righteousness, which the Lord accounts as foolishness.
“Those who would have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. This is what distinguishes them from the disloyal, who have accepted a man-made institution in the place of the true Sabbath. The observance of God’s rest day is the mark of distinction between him that serves God and him that serves Him not. The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 970
“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads–it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved–just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming” –Ibid., vol. 4, p. 1161
“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 81
“True godliness will be clearly distinguished from its appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy, will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness.” –Christian Service, p. 49
“What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world, are receiving the worldly mold, and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth,—these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity.
“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,—candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour.” –Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 191. Amen.
Daniel Kimeu