The Mark of the Beast

by

Jarno Noordermeer

Copyright

Copyright © 2022 Jarno Noordermeer

All Rights Reserved

Quote

Choose you this day whom ye will serve.
- Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
- 1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Mark

The Beast

The Sabbath

The One You Obey

Come Out of Her

Conclusion

About

The Ten Commandments

Appendix

Introduction

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I really appreciate it!!

I think you'll find lots of good stuff in here that you probably haven't heard before.

A lot of people think that the mark is a physical mark, or perhaps some kind of money RFID chip.

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 13:17 (KJV)

But is that correct?

The Bible is clear. You receive the mark from worshipping the beast.

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.
- Revelation 14:9-11 (KJV)

It's no coincidence that every time the mark of the beast is mentioned in the book of Revelation, it is in the context of worship.

So, the mark of the beast is actually a worship issue, and the "buy or sell" thing is just a stick to force you to worship the beast.

That changes things a bit.

So, I would like to invite you to read and study this book, so that it may become clear to you.

Let's get right into it.

The Mark

The three angels' messages are the final warning given to man. They contain some pretty strong language.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 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 [thoughts], or in his hand [deeds], 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. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
- Revelation 14:9-12 (KJV)

We can immediately see that the mark of the beast has to do with worship, and also the commandments of God.

It also says that if you worship the beast, God's wrath (the seven last plagues) is on you.

The mark is received either in the forehead (choice), or in the right hand (coercion). More on this later.

A mark can be seen as a sign of who you worship.

Does God have such a sign? Yes He does. (It is also sometimes referred to as a seal)

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
- Exodus 31:16-17 (KJV)

Is this for Israel only?

No, we are spiritual Israel, and this is a never-ending covenant for us.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
- Romans 2:28-29 (KJV)

At this point it should be clear that the seal and the mark are both a sign of who you worship. The mark can therefore not be a chip.

Let's have a closer look at what it means to worship.

Worship = the feeling or expression of reverence [deep respect] and adoration [love] for a deity.

So in short it means love.

But how do we love God?

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- John 14:15 (KJV)

Jesus said this, so obviously it's important.

Note that this verse about worshiping points straight back to God's Law, the Ten Commandments.

The definition of worship (reverence and adoration) can be found in the Bible almost verbatim.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God [reverence], and keep his commandments [adoration]: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)

The book of Revelation also frequently points to the Ten Commandments.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 12:17 (KJV)

And:

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
- Revelation 14:12 (KJV)

And:

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Revelation 22:14 (KJV)

Three times (!!) the book of Revelation mentions the Ten Commandments. Revelation was specifically written for the last days, so this is clearly very important.

God wants us to keep the Ten Commandments no matter what.

It's a test for the last days.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
- Revelation 3:10 (KJV)

When it comes down to "Who do you worship?" there is of course only one other contender and that's satan. He's got his own counterfeit "commandments", and he wants you to worship him. Either by choice, or through coercion.

When it comes to worshiping there is only one commandment that stands out, and that's the Sabbath commandment.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:8-11

Something we'll be doing in all of eternity.

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
- Isaiah 66:22-23 (KJV)

The Sabbath day is a specific day for rest and worship. Sabbath is kept from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset (the seventh day). It is sometimes also referred to as the seal of God. More on this later.

The link between worship, and the Sabbath commandment can also be found in the first angel's message.

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
- Revelation 14:7 (KJV)

The phrase "heaven, and earth, and the sea" (in the first angel's message) is also found in the Sabbath commandment.

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:11 (KJV)

It all points to the same thing, e.g. the Sabbath in the commandments of God.

If satan wants people to worship him he would need to change the Sabbath commandment, and replace it with something else. Satan's day (his mark if you will) is better known as Sunday. The change from Sabbath to Sunday was made in AD 321.

Now you might say that it's just a day, right?!

But please understand that to God it's not just a day. God is looking forward to spending the Sabbath day with you (rest and worship), and not on any other day. Remember that it was God's own finger that wrote the Ten Commandments in stone.

The Ten Commandments are kept in the Ark of the Covenant.
- By Ron Wyatt / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle.
- By Ruk7 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Eventually the Ark of the Covenant was transferred to the temple in Jerusalem.
- Architectural model of the temple of King Solomon in Jerusalem by Thomas Newberry / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0

The true tabernacle is in heaven.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
- Hebrews 8:1-2 (KJV)

The Ten Commandments are at the very heart of both the tabernacle, and the temple. That should give you some idea of how important this is to God.

We will be judged by the Ten Commandments.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament [covenant]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
- Revelation 11:18-19 (KJV)

Breaking the Sabbath commandment means you are guilty of breaking all of the Law.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- James 2:10 (KJV)

The change from Sabbath to Sunday was prophesied in the book of Daniel.

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: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
- Daniel 7:25 (KJV)

This also clearly points the finger at who the antichrist (beast) is. More on this later.

Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change [from Sabbath to Sunday] was her act. And the act is the mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.
- Faith of Our Fathers, p. 14 C.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons

As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, papist writers cite "the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday."... What then is the change of the Sabbath, but the sign, or mark, of the authority of the Roman Church-"the mark of the beast"?
- Ellen White, The Faith I Live By, p. 286

Shocked?!?

No need to be. The Roman Catholic Church were the ones behind the Dark Ages, and killed more than 50 million Christians.

Satan will use what is known as the "Sunday law" (with death decree) to force you to "worship" him.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak [legislate], and cause [enforce] that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
- Revelation 13:15 (KJV)

Summary

Commandments

Worship Day

Judgment

Enforced By

God

Sabbath

Seal of God

-

Men

Sunday

Mark of the beast

Sunday law (death penalty)

Note: The Sabbath is sometimes also referred to as the seal of God, and the Sunday is sometimes also referred to as the mark of the beast. (They overlap)

When all is said and done, you will either:

- Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters, or

- Worship the beast and his image

God will give everyone sufficient understanding to make this choice.

The mark of the beast = knowingly keeping Sunday instead of Sabbath.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
- Hebrews 10:26-27 (KJV)

So, you either live with God in obedience (Sabbath), or you will die with satan in rebellion (Sunday).

God just wants to know who you are loyal to. Who you love. Who you obey.

When I think about the test that God will soon put before us, I often think of Daniel's friends that chose the furnace over bowing down to false gods.

We ought to obey God rather than men.
- Acts 5:29 (KJV)

The Beast

A clear reference to the antichrist is that of "the woman on the scarlet coloured beast".

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
- Revelation 17:3 (KJV)

Now this of course is not literal. It's symbolic.

Many of the symbols in the book of Revelation are sometimes hard to understand. Generally speaking, their meaning becomes clear just before the prophecy is about to be fulfilled, e.g. we now understand what the mark of the beast means, because it's about to happen soon.

Here's a short study on the symbols "woman", "scarlet", and "beast" to give you a better idea of what's going on.

Let's start with something simple, and work our way up.

Scarlet

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)

From this we get that scarlet means sins (or sinful).

Scarlet = sins

Beast

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
- Daniel 7:23 (KJV)

From this we get that a beast is a kingdom (or a nation, or a country, etc).

Beast = kingdom

Woman

This one is a bit harder to understand.

I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
- Jeremiah 6:2 (KJV)

From that we get that woman means "daughter of Zion", but what does that mean?

And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
- Isaiah 51:16 (KJV)

So now we know that "Zion" means "God's people". But who are God's people?

It's the church! (As in people, not the building)

The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos (Strong's 1577) which means "belonging to the Lord". That's just another word for "God's people".

So, "a daughter of Zion" means "church". A gathering of God's people if you will.

The comparison between a woman (virgin, bride, wife) and the church isn't new.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
- Ephesians 5:23 (KJV)

In the verse below Paul compares the church in Corinth with a chaste virgin (pure woman).

For I am jealous over you [church of Corinth] with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)

And here's the wife (the church) making herself ready.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
- Revelation 19:7 (KJV)

The house of Israel is also another way of saying "God's people".

Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
- Ezekiel 34:30 (KJV)

And here the house of Israel is compared to a wife.

Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
- Jeremiah 3:20 (KJV)

From all of this we can learn the following things:

Woman = church

Virgin = church with pure doctrine

Bride/Wife = the true church of Christ

Whore/Prostitute/Harlet = church with false teachings

Mother, queen, etc...

Putting it all together

So we can now see that "the woman [church] on the scarlet [sinful] coloured beast [kingdom]" refers to a country that is led by a church.

That combination is unique. It's normally the other way around.

There's in fact only one such country in the world for which that is true, and it's the Vatican (Roman Catholic Church).
- By Alex Proimos / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Hard to believe?

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (KJV)

Just remember that during the Dark Ages the Roman Catholic Church killed more than 50 million Christians.

The Roman Catholic Church has essentially wrapped itself in a form of "christianity", but at the heart of it they are still pagan (idols, sun worshiping, etc).
- By The White House from Washington, DC / Wikimedia Commons

Always mocking Jesus with things like the bent cross, etc.

Note: Please understand that "the beast" is not referring to the church members of the Roman Catholic Church. It's mainly referring to the papacy, the Jesuits, the kings of the earth, etc.

How about the colors of the antichrist?

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
- Revelation 17:4 (KJV)
- By blues_brother / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Those are the colors of the Roman Catholic Church. They are also decked with gold, etc. They're filthy rich is what I mean.

There's no way this is a coincidence.

How about the location of the Roman Catholic Church?

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
- Revelation 17:9 (KJV)

The Vatican sits on the seven hills of Rome.
- By Renata3 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

How about 666?

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666].
- Revelation 13:18 (KJV)

Every pope has the same job title, e.g. "VICARIUS FILII DEI". This means "vicar of Christ" which means something like "to go to God, you must go via the pope, who then negotiates on your behalf". The pope clearly exalts himself above Jesus which is a form of blasphemy.

In Latin characters are also numbers. For example, V=5, C=100, etc. We can then see that the term "VICARIUS FILII DEI" adds up to 666.

Oops...

What about the New World Order?

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
- Revelation 17:18 (KJV)

The papacy is in charge of the world as can be clearly seen by the pope's visit to the United States Capitol in 2015 where he received a standing ovation.
- By USCapitol / Wikimedia Commons

I mean, seriously, why is a religious leader even addressing the US congress? And 2 days later, the pope addresses the United Nations in New York City.

Babylon lives again.

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- Revelation 17:5 (KJV)

(Capitalization not mine)

The mother here is the Roman Catholic Church, and the harlets are the churches that follow her.

Also, almost all world leaders are forced to travel to the Vatican to meet with the pope at some point or another.
- By Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia Commons

It's clear in the picture above that Joe Biden was summoned, and that the pope was in charge. This has happened to other people as well, e.g. Bush, Clinton, Obama, Trump, Kerry, Gore, Putin, etc. The pope talks to just about anyone in power it seems. I'm guessing people go there to swear allegiance, and receive their marching orders.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Okay, so we can talk about this all day long, but clearly all roads lead to Rome.

The Sabbath

God has a law, called the Ten Commandments.

The Sabbath is part of the Ten Commandments, and is essentially a day set aside for rest and worship.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)

Note that it starts with "Remember".

A lot of people think we don't need to keep the Sabbath commandment anymore.

But is that correct?

As we can see below, God does not change, and nor do His commandments.

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
- Malachi 3:6 (KJV)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)

God's commandments therefore stand forever.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
- Psalms 111:7-8 (KJV)

This goes for all of God's commandments, but especially the Ten Commandments which God wrote with His own finger in two tablets of stone.

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
- Exodus 31:18 (KJV)

The Sabbath commandment was already in place in the beginning (Genesis).

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
- Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV)

The Sabbath is a perpetual (never-ending) covenant for the children of Israel (us).

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
- Exodus 31:16-17 (KJV)

God is perfect and doesn't change, so when He issues a commandment it is for all of eternity.

Overview of the Sabbath

If the Sabbath was in place in Genesis, and God doesn't change, we can expect to see the Sabbath all throughout the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation).

Here is a brief overview of that.

Genesis

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
- Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV)

Adam and Eve

Before the Fall our first parents had kept the Sabbath, which was instituted in Eden; and after their expulsion from Paradise they continued its observance.
- Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 80

Abraham

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
- Genesis 26:4-5 (KJV)

Exodus

And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.
- Exodus 16:23-30 (KJV)

When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
- Exodus 18:16 (KJV)

Mount Sinai

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)

A Sign Forever

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
- Exodus 31:16-17 (KJV)

The Whole Duty of Man

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)

Jesus

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
- Luke 4:16 (KJV)

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
- Mark 2:27-28 (KJV)

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV)

The Sabbath Has Not Been Changed

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos, Sabbath-rest] to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
- Hebrews 4:8-10 (KJV)

Revelation

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 12:17 (KJV)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
- Revelation 14:12 (KJV)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Revelation 22:14 (KJV)

New Heaven and New Earth

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
- Isaiah 66:22-23 (KJV)

Conclusion

Jesus clearly went to "church" (synagogue) on the Sabbath, so what happened? Why are we not keeping the Sabbath today?

It's because the antichrist changed it in AD 321.

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: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
- Daniel 7:25 (KJV)

The Sabbath commandment is the only commandment that is both "time" and "law".

Because it was so long ago, people think it no longer matters.

It's just a day right?!? Well, no actually. Not to God.

The Sabbath was always intended as a set day to spend quality time with God. It matters what day it is, because if I say to you "I'll see you on the Sabbath at 3 pm", and I'm there on Saturday, and you're there on Sunday, it's never going to work. The fact that the Sabbath is on the seventh day (Friday sunset - Saturday sunset) matters. God has set this day apart from all other days.

God will never change the Sabbath commandment. Why would He? It's us that are in error.

So now it becomes a matter of obedience again. We either obey God (keep the Sabbath), or we disobey God (and keep the Sunday).

The seventh day Sabbath is essentially a "date" with God.

Don't be late!

The One You Obey

Here's another way of looking at it.

A seal has three components:

- Name

- Title

- Territory

The seal of God can be found in God's Law, the Ten Commandments (in the fourth commandment to be more precise).

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)

So: "The Lord thy God made heaven and earth".

Seal of God

Name

The Lord thy God

Title

Creator

Territory

Heaven and Earth

God says that the Sabbath is on the seventh day, and He puts His seal in the same commandment. That's a very strong endorsement for the seventh day Sabbath.

Technically speaking the Sabbath commandment contains the seal of God. To the point where they are sometimes used interchangeably.

The seal here is used to reveal the authority of the law-giver, e.g. it tells us that the law came from God. In other words, by keeping the Sabbath we acknowledge that God is our Creator, and that it is God whom we obey.

Satan has a seal like that, except it's called a mark (sign, seal, and mark are all synonymous). His day of worship is Sunday, and by keeping Sunday we acknowledge that satan is our authority.

I hope you see where this is going...

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
- Romans 6:16 (KJV)

The one you obey becomes your master!!

And that's where we're at today.

In the end there will be only two classes: those who obey God, and those who do not.

Who is your authority?

Who do you obey?

Will you obey a loving, kind, and gentle God who died for you on a cross?

Or, will you obey the one that will lead you to your death?

That is the decision we all have to make, and once we have decided, we will be either sealed or marked (as a sign of ownership).

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
- Malachi 3:17 (KJV)

No one has received the mark of the beast just yet, but when the Sunday law is passed, and God's Law is made void, this will become the test of the last days.

It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
- Psalms 119:126 (KJV)

Come Out of Her

In the last days there will be two churches.

- Church of Christ

- Church of satan (antichrist)

The church of Christ is based on God's Law, the Ten Commandments.

The church of satan is based on a modified version of the Ten Commandments, and also has different doctrines that are not Biblical.

The changes?

- The "no idols" commandment was removed

- Sabbath was changed to Sunday

- The "don't covet" commandment was split into two (to get ten commandments again)

Both churches have a signature commandment by which you can tell them apart. The church of Christ keeps the Sabbath, and the church of satan keeps the Sunday.

Both the Sabbath and the Sunday are a sign of who you worship.

It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
- Exodus 31:17 (KJV)

When we keep the Sabbath, we acknowledge that God is the Creator.

Satan's church is led by the papacy (beast). The coming One World Religion will be a mixture of all sorts of different denominations. They will all worship on Sunday. That's what they have in common.

God says that such "worship" is in vain.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
- Matthew 15:9 (KJV)

God warns us to stay well clear of this church.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- Revelation 18:4 (KJV)

Satan will try and force you to worship (him) on Sunday, and Sunday laws for that are already in place.

That's how close to the end we are.

Conclusion

There are two ways you can receive the mark of the beast.

- By choice (forehead)

- Through coercion (right hand)

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.
- Revelation 13:16 (KJV)

The forehead is symbolic of a choice you make (just think mind, decisions, frontal lobe, etc).

The right hand is symbolic of coercion (just think forcing something with your hand, actions, etc).

God only seals in the forehead (no coercion).

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
- Revelation 7:3 (KJV)

If however you agree with the change in God's Law (Sabbath to Sunday), then you will receive the mark in your forehead, but if satan somehow forces you to keep the Sunday (by penalties, or not being able to "buy or sell"), then you will receive the mark in your right hand.

Either way, if you receive the mark, God's wrath (the seven last plagues) is still on you.

Now then is the time to learn how to trust God fully.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

Soon it will be time to decide.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
- Joel 3:14 (KJV)

No one has received the mark of the beast just yet. That will only happen when the Sunday law comes into force.

Then the Sabbath/Sunday test will begin.

There can be only two classes. Each party is distinctly stamped, either with the seal of the living God, or with the mark of the beast or his image.
- Ellen White, The Review and Herald, January 30, 1900

Final Thoughts

I want to congratulate you for making it this far. Hopefully you now have some kind of idea of what the mark of the beast is about.

Remember, a never-changing God would never change His own law, e.g. there still is a requirement to keep the seventh day Sabbath.

There remaineth therefore a rest [Sabbath] to the people of God.
- Hebrews 4:9 (KJV)

The mark of the beast = knowingly keeping Sunday instead of Sabbath.

This is a serious issue, and I pray that you choose well.

About

My name is Jarno, and this is my testimony.

A whole bunch of bad stuff happened in 2013, and two years later, I felt so guilty about it (no hope) that I started thinking about taking my own life.

At some level I knew it was wrong, so I settled on buying a high-risk motorcycle thinking that I would maybe find some joy, or "whatever". So I bought a motorcycle off Trade Me (Suzuki DRZ 400 SM), and it arrived about 2-3 weeks later.

On my very first ride I got myself into a situation that should have led to my death. I mis-shifted, I was distracted because of it, and when I looked up, all I could see was the hood of a car. I was going straight towards it. Then the next instant I see myself in a very sharp turn to the left which saved my life. I should have been dead.

When I came home, I collapsed on the floor overwhelmed by tears, and it was then that I felt God's presence, and He said "Not so fast. I have a plan for you".

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
- Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

I wasn't doing so well still, so I checked myself into hospital (mental health). No one really knew I was there, so I was surprised when a nurse told me that I had a visitor. I had never heard the name she gave me before. My nurse brought me to a person I had never seen before.

My visitor then introduced herself, and I realized that she was a friend of a friend kind of thing. We spoke for an hour, and she came back the next day saying "I have a present for you". She gave me a Life Application Study Bible which had a ton of footnotes, charts, etc. Then I asked her "Where did you get it from?", and she said that someone had dropped it in her mailbox 20 years ago!! It had just been gathering dust waiting for me. Like wow!

I read the entire New Testament while I was in hospital.

When I came out of hospital I had a burning desire to get baptized, so I found a suitable church, and I ended up getting baptized in the sea. It was just the three of us, but it was an amazing day.
- Me, and Pastor Ben Reynolds

It was also at that point that I first considered myself to be a real Christian.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

God has forgiven me for what happened in 2013.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
- Isaiah 43:25 (KJV)

God gave me something to look forward to.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

In some ways my testimony is very similar to that of Paul.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (KJV)

In other words, if God can save me, He can certainly save you.

Talk to God. He won't let you down.

If you get stuck with something, you can find me here.

The Ten Commandments

The following was taken from Exodus 20, and Mark 12.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength

1.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

3.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

4.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

5.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

6.

Thou shalt not kill.

7.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8.

Thou shalt not steal.

9.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Appendix

The Sunday Law

There have been various attempts to legislate Sunday as a mandatory day of rest and worship.

Sunday laws are sometimes better known as Blue laws.

Below is an example of a Sunday law from the American State Papers (1911).

Here's an excerpt from it:

Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechising, upon pain for the first fault to lose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, to lose the said allowance and also be whipt ; and for the third to suffer death.
- American State Papers

And another one:

Whosoever shall profane the Lord's day, or any part of it, either by sinful servile work, or by unlawful sport, recreation, or otherwise, whether wilfully or in a careless neglect, shall be duly punished by fine, imprisonment, or corporally, according to the nature, and measure of the sinn, and offence. But if the court upon examination, by clear, and satisfying evidence find that the sin was proudly, presumptuously, and with a high hand committed against the known command and authority of the blessed God, such a person therein despising and reproaching the Lord, shall be put to death, that all others may feare and shun such provoking rebellious courses.
- American State Papers

These guys are clearly serious, and I'm convinced that there's more to come.