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Is Sunday worship the MARK of the Beast? “Only those who keep the Sabbath will be saved in the last days.” (Medical Ministry, p.123) “Sunday-keeping must be the mark of the beast.” (The Marvel of Nations, Elder U. Smith pages 170, 183) E.G White taught that no person who did not keep the Sabbath in the last days would be saved.1 She stated that those "Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. 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." (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 588. also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 405.) The church in 90 A.D. “...every Lord's day, hold your solemn assemblies, and rejoice: … being the day of the resurrection.” (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 449) Question: Was the Mark of the Beast issued before the first century ended? What if we worshipped on Monday instead of Sunday, does this excuse us from the mark of the beast? These are questions that one never gets a biblical answer from E.G. White or other 7th day Adventist Sabbatrian's. Some Adventists use Christmas and Easter as examples that all people partake along with Christians. But do the non Christians really participate? Atheists do not worship on Sunday, neither do other religions, nor do they go to Church on Sunday, since they are unbelievers (they don't even call it church). But the Bible says all will worship the beast (who do not accept Christ), not a few and not many. But today they are not doing this. The fact is that Leo Schreven (and others) have accused the brethren on a doctrine that they have made unique to themselves; to their movement. The Bible teaches no prophecy is of a private interpretation, but they have the evangelical and denominational churches worshipping the beast (or his image, as if that softens it) when other religions are not. They make the church guilty by association because of one point that is shared. If one goes to school and in their curriculum they are being taught evolution. Does that mean the student who sits in the class believes it or endorses it? Can one go to school and not be an evolutionist? It is the same for those who worship God on Sunday. Can they worship God on another day and not have the mark of the beast, or is it only Sunday. If one does a study will find it actually was an Old Testament command, a Sabbath on the high holy days could come on Sunday Lev.23. The same reasoning they use to prove not to keep Sunday as a worship day can be turned around and used against the very instructions from God. I refer to the Old Testament in Exodus 12:14 which was the first commands of a day to keep. “ On the first day and the 7th day is a holy convocation. This would be Saturday and that’s right, the first day is SUNDAY. (unless the 7th day no any longer means Saturday). The reason this all fails logically and biblically is the penalty for receiving either the mark or worshipping the image. Killing is a moral command that no matter when it is broken, it is forgivable if one repents. However the taking of the mark is unforgiveable-- there is no repentance available for anyone. Just as the sin of blasphemy for Israel at the time of Christ is unforgivable, this too at the end of time cannot be forgiven. Once again the meaning of the Scripture is switched by 7th day Adventists to fit their own predilection. But then they turn around and ask people to repent and join them. The very thing the Bible says they unable do-- if they have the mark. This shows how unbiblical they are in their Bible presentations. When I asked a local pastor about this I was met with no response except he'd have to look at it again. Does all the world worship the Beast as E.G. White or Leo Schreven says? Is not Saturday and Sunday the same to everyone who is irreligious! They make no distinction. jus because they have a day off it should not be confused with worship. Christians go to Church on Sunday and worship the Lord, while the rest of the world does not have their mind on any day to congregate and worship. This is hardly the same thing. Besides, the mark has to do with worship of a person not of a day! (Rev.13). Sunday is neither the mark, anymore than the mark of the beast can be anyone who reads the Bible in the Greek pagan language (or any language of a man). Jesus said "the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth (Jn.4:24) “...those who worship him must worship God in spirit and truth.” Jesus puts the focus on the WHO, not the where or the day. The very mistake that the Jewish Samaritans made some do today with keeping the Old Testament law, having certain place or day to worship. The Jews of Jesus’ day were mostly following Pharisaic Judaism, not the Judaism of Moses! The Pharisees went for the letter of the law, Jesus used the Spirit to interpret the true intent of the law so that the letter of the law could be understood and practiced correctly. The truth is that the ADVENTISTS do not keep the SABBATH laws according to the Bible anymore than anyone else. Look at Leviticus 23:32, where the Sabbath is to be kept from SUNSET to SUNSET, or Jeremiah 17:21, with the command of Do no work: and they are to stay in one place. (Neh.10:31; 13:15-22; 28:9-1; Ex 16:29). Leave the car and stay home. If traveling, no long walks either, and carry no loads. Jer.17:21-22 no gardening. Exod. 35:2 “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.” Do you work or your congregation for 6 days? Or 5? If 5 like everyone else you are breaking the law. This is included in the command. And remember to violate it means death. Neither can you separate the punishment from the breaking of the law, they go together. When have you last seen someone stoned for breaking the Sabbath by a Sabbatarian? So be honest, keeping the Sabbath the wrong way equals not keeping the Sabbath at all. Let's be honest imperfect law keeping is not law keeping at all. But over and over again I hear from Adventists at least we try to keep the Sabbath. According to God that is not good enough. Since when does God say good intentions count in keeping the law! It’s falling short no matter if one has good intentions or not. so be honest you don't keep the Sabbath in a biblical manner. We need to take only two examples to of the many books written on the subject of Sunday worship to make the 7th day Adventists view clear. Jan Marcussen's book National Sunday Law states on p.21 states the beast receives its authority from Rome he “Rules the world for 1260 years (from 538 A.D.– 1798 A.D.) Then received a deadly wound which later heals.” If we put this alongside the biblical account we see the world worships the beast after his wound is healed not before as Marcussen has it. This is crucial as he has to have it before to make the Pope or the Vatican the antichrist. On p.24 He states the Italian government recognized Vatican city from 1929 as an independent state, the pope was king and this was the healing. Using a portion of a headline to interpret the Bible he points out ‘Mussolini and Gaspari sign historic pact…Heal wound of many years.” According to the Bible the healing is not to an office, but a individual person who has a death wound. He spiritualizes the event takes a newspaper statement to interpret the Bible, how shrewd. “According to the angel, during the 1260 years from 538 to 1798, God’s two witnesses would prophesy “clothed in sackcloth” The two witnesses they interpret as the Bible, the Old and New Testament which occurred when the French “National assembly abolished religion and banned the Bible” (pp.36-37 These Times A Special Issue 1983). Lets look carefully at how out of context this all is and how far away they are from a literal interpretation of scripture. Rev. 11:3-5 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. V:7-8 Tells us when they finish their testimony, the beast kills them. “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” V:9-13 their dead bodies are not put in the grave for 31/2 days people rejoice over them. “After the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet and they are raptured up and a great earthquake occurs, and a tenth of the city falls seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven." Is this what happened in 1798 when the French passed a decree to tolerate the Scriptures again? Did the Bible die and was resurrected taken to heaven? These prophets are real men according to the Bible and this occurs in Jerusalem, having nothing to do with France.7th Day Adventists are in their squeezing whatever they can into their false end time theology. Was anyone killed by fire, did a great earthquake destroy the city were 7 thousand people killed? To discover the true meaning of Rev 13:4-5 we must read it carefully “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.” One cannot worship God and be deceived by a day and worship the devil because of it. It also says he continued 42 months. What they do is change months into years. So this occurred in 538 A.D. and 1260 years later is 1798 and the US is the 2nd beast that has everyone worship the first beast. Here’s how they apply the beast, “Notice what will happen to the United states.” “It will speak as dragon (verse11). A country “speaks,” or expresses itself, through legislative processes.” The go on to say the US will create an image to the original beast. Everything according to this article points to the United States. The “resurrected phase of the sea beast (verse 24) Thus; it must begin about 1798 and rule until Jesus second coming” (These Times A Special Issue 1983). When they are finished with the literal interpretation one can barely recognize what was said. It is person ‘singular’, the beast speaks not a country. Does America worship the dragon, do Americans worship our country? “Under the sixth trumpet John saw God release certain destroying forces for 391 days and one hour (360 days + 30 days + 1 day + 1 hour). From the time of the Reformation on, Bible scholars such as Martin Luther, Joseph Mede, John Napier, Sir Isaac Newton, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and scores of others have identified the sixth trumpet with the forces of Muhammadanism.” “After the forty-two months, one of its heads would receive a “deadly wound.” In 1798, exactly 1260 years after the pope became free to exercise his supremacy over the state, the French general Berthier brought to a climax the blow that the Reformation had given to the Papacy, by entering Rome and taking the pope captive. As John so clearly prophesied, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity” (These Times A special Issue 1983). Most of these scholars they mentioned kept Sunday worship not the Sabbath, but did they really endorse the 6th trumpet as Muhammadanism? If so how far into the tribulation are we? Hey it’s not so bad after all. These Times printed in 1983 was quite a special Issue May 19,1780 the sun and moon became dark fulfilling the 6th seal (p.28) “While the first six judgments mentioned in Revelation 8 and 9 affected only as portion of mankind…the seventh judgment is universal.” “Since the seventh trumpet began in 1844 world conditions have certainly worsened” (ibid p.37). Notice they arrive at the date 1844 as the 7th seal the date of the beginning of their Church. Make no mistake about it they teach we are now way into the tribulation, halfway through at the very least! How can this not be the mark now! Why is there no massive killings for not complying with Sunday worship. What a con of a doctrine. The mark of the beast is coming and one better not think its Sunday worship, lest they fall into taking it because they worship on Saturday, thinking they are immune to it. The whole world is not worshipping the beast according to their theology! Is anyone using the mark to buy and sell as Sunday worshippers? Hardly. Rev 13:7-8 “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (He conquers the saints how by killing them, he has authority over the whole world). All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (One is not a Christian who worships the beast because their name is not in the book of life. But we get our name in there by believing in Christ not by keeping the Sabbath! It also says all worship him, this word for all means-- ALL…just like all have sinned, not just many. But notice it says they worship a person not on a certain day, their is no day mentioned anywhere in relation to worshipping the beast in the book of revelation, The Sabbath is not mentioned either. This is all a straw man argument. (Now certainly atheists are not worshipping the papacy nor are Christians. Satan has always wanted to be worshipped as God, this is why he was first cast out from Heaven. It is a person and his image that will be worshipped. 2 Thess.2 tells us he will have all power, not just political but supernatural power to perform all signs and lying wonders. Rev. 13: 3-15 “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.( fire in the Old Testament was related to the glory of God in the temple, In the New Testament we see a great light at the transfiguration and fire at Pentecost, so the antichrist will counterfeit this). "And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.” (To my knowledge no Pope has done any signs and wonders yet. Jesus said this would be his main basis of operation Mt.24:24. He is someone who physically dies unless you spiritualize this too (which they do). Notice it states the whole earth makes an image of the beast, where would this be? 2 Thess.2 Again tells us it will be erected in the temple. Neither has happened. Yet we are supposed to believe we are in Rev.14. V.15 “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” (This beast will be a miracle worker like no one else, he has the power to give life to this image and it speaks, he also kills those who are not worshipping the image. Is the image a day that speaks! I hardly think so! It is a look alike of himself. Consider all the miracles that have to do with statues today inside and outside the Catholic Church and other religions we can already get a glimpse of its operation. Whether or not this is an actual statue or some kind of image made by technology such as a hologram is hard to say right now, but we do know this is possible. What is the MARK? After reading all these assumptions its time to read what the Bible actually teaches on the subject. Rev.13:16 “He causes (forces) all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,” the word on in Greek is epi. In the context of the sentence it says “the hand of them, the right one or upon the forehead of them (the Bible uses the word hand for anything from the forearm to the fingers. Jesus showed the nail prints in his hand yet we know this was in his wrist not the palm. On the head means literally on the actual forehead). V.17 “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (This is a personal mans name arithmos anthropou). V.18 “This calls for wisdom. (not speculation) If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number His number is 666.” If one cannot buy or sell logically it can’t be just the day they go to church, it must mean something physical. Considering our society today for their ability to do commerce. No one is given the mark against their will, the mark of the beast will be voluntary. People will choose to accept the mark so the can buy and sell, they will worship the antichrist to avoid being killed. They will accept the mark of the beast since it will seem like an advantage. Vs.18 the number we notice is a number of a man, not a title of an office, a role or a system. It is either the name in gr. Which is the name of the beast referring to a man also in Greek. the number is a mans number, literally “is a man” and “the number of him” hexa kosioi hexakonta hex. These are not numerals but words which are in 3 groups =600, 6-10’s=60, and 6. Food for thought, there seems to be significance that this is done this way. So it may not be 112 +63+ 501 =666 or other random numbers as Adventist’s or others have calculated. This is significant because the issue in this future story is that of worship of a creature, not God. People will vow their devotion to this summation of all the false Christ’s, whose ministry will be marked with signs and wonders that lie. They do this by allowing either his name, or else the number of his name to be placed on them as a symbol of their allegiance. It is this act that will be a unifying element in his deception to the world. Mark – Greek-charagma, “a stamp” or “imprinted mark.” “The mark of the beast” (peculiar to Revelation) is the badge of the followers of Antichrist, stamped on the forehead or right hand (Rev 13:16; compare Ezek 9:4,6). from the same as 5482; a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude. charakter; from the same as 5482; a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving [“character”], the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or [figuratively] representation): it is an impress a stamped image as in Acts 17:29 of Idolatrous images it is literally the brand of the beast. Robertson’s Greek words says” A Mark (Gr. Charagma). Old word from Charasso, to engrave, in Acts 17:29 of idolatrous images, but in Rev.13:16,17,14:9,11:16:2,19:20, 20:4) of the brand of the beast on the right hand or on the forehead or on both. Deismann (bible studies pp.240 ff.) Shows that in the papyri official business documents often have the same name and image of the Emperor, with the date as the official stamp or seal and with the charagma as the name of this seal. Animals and slaves were often branded with the owners name, as Paul (Gal.6:17) bore the stigmata of Christ, Ptolemy Philadelphus compelled some Alexandrian Jews to receive the mark of Dionysus as his devotees (3 Maccabess 3:29) the servants of God receive on their foreheads the stamp of the divine seal (Rev.7:3) Charles is certain that John gets his metaphor from the Tephillim (phylacteries) which the Jews wore on his left hand and forehead. At any rate, this “mark of the beast” was necessary for life and all social business relations. On the right hand, that is plain in sight. Upon their forehead (Gr. epi ton metapon).” Robertson goes on saying “The stamp (the mark) may bear either the name or the number of the beast. The name and the number are the same. They could write the name in numerals, for numbers were given by letters. Swete suggests that it was “according to a sort of Gematria known to the apocalyptist and his Asian readers, but not generally intelligible.” In other words one would probably have to be Jewish to know the Hebrew alphabet. Strong’s Concordance 5482 charax (khar'-ax); from charasso (to sharpen to a point; akin to 1125 through the idea of scratching); a stake, i.e. (by implication) a palisade or rampart (military mound for circumvallation in a siege): taw, “mark” Ezek 9:4,6. In Ezekiel's vision of the destruction of the wicked, the mark to be set upon the forehead of the righteous, at Yahweh's command, the man clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side, was told to mark upon their foreheads those whom God would save from judgment by His sheltering grace. Taw also appears as the attesting mark made to a document (the Revised Version (British and American) “signature,” margin “mark”). Ezek. 9:3-7 “Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it (here we see the mark is written by the man with ink, which can be seen).” The equivalent Hebrew letter taw (“t”) in the Phoenician alphabet and on the coins of the Maccabees had the form of a cross (T). In oriental synods it was used as a signature by bishops who could not write. The cross, as a sign of ownership, was burnt upon the necks or thighs of horses and camels. It may have been the “mark” set upon the forehead of the righteous in Ezekiel's vision. (from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, ) Interesting that Bible says when people receive the Mark of the Beast it is necessary for them to buy and sell, but the mark itself is a sign of allegiance, an act of worship of a person, the Antichrist (the false Messiah). Its similarity to Ezekiel’s inkhorn cannot be overlooked. It will be an admission that the wearer is under the authority of Antichrist, and gives his allegiance to his cause. We know as far back as the ancient Egyptians have marked their bodies with tattoos, cut marks into their skin, and shaved their heads all of which is pagan ritualistic worship. The Torah teaches against such things, as the Lord specified to Moses in the law, clearly stating, “Ye shall not shave around your temples; neither shalt thou mark the corners of thy beard. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:27-28). Deuteronomy 14:1 further warns against cutting the body. Elijah confronted the 450 false prophets of Baal who performed this cutting of the skin as worship to their God. these cuttings had religious significance. The tattoos are not too different then what we see preparing us today. Today their are all kinds of tattoos accepted and even in fashion, some quite hideous. People wear all kinds of pierced jewelry in different parts of the body. We wear hats with names on them for teams we wear T-shirts, even our cars have emblems. Just like Christians wear a cross to show who they follow as well as T-shirts so this has become engrained in our culture. So it is not hard to understand that some kind of (computerized) tattoo will be a sign of allegiance to the new world order under this new leader, the false Christ. Considering the OT warnings on cutting oneself or tattooing that the antichrist would use this method as an affront to God. We are very open today to cut and put jewelry and rings in unlikely places and tattoos all over our bodies. We are literally being prepared to accept this mark on the body. When one looks at the Rock music industry the more radical element has literally adopted 666 as their imprimatur. They have it promoted on their albums they make the el cronnuto sign as allegiance to the devil, they have the number tattooed on their bodies. 7th Day Adventists want us to believe that Christians receive the mark of the Beast from a day that we choose to congregate on to worship God. But heavy metallers who have the number tattooed willingly who do not worship on Sunday do not have the mark. This is so absurd to consider, its hard to comprehend they have gone so far with this distortion of the mark. As far as I’m concerned NEITHER one of us have the mark. It hasn’t been issued yet. “ Then a third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If ANYONE worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. This calls for patient endurance on the part of THE SAINTS who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Rev. 14:9-12). According to the Scriptures, the “mark of the beast” is received on the right hand or forehead. It is outside and it is visible to the naked eye. With modern technology and the way the system of commerce is set up, it is very possible that this mark may be directly linked to a computer, a chip, an implanted transponder or an LCD tattoo. But regardless if it is or isn't, everyone who is living immediately before the return of Christ during the tribulation will take this mark in order to buy or sell anything, in order to survive. This is something that is visible that is on the outside not on the inside, notice it says they have no rest, no peace, once taken their is no turning back. Does the Evangelical church that worships on the first day have no rest or peace? This will be something so evident that someone would literally have to refuse Jesus to receive it. Rev 16:2 “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. They will be literally tortured for doing this. Can anyone with a little biblical intelligence actually think this has taken place. “Also the way was opened to “worship the image of the beast.” An image is a replica of an original. There are millions of people who are not “worshiping the beast,” but they do worship its image. Many churches today are nothing more than an image of the Papal Church. They may have a different name, but they are following the same false teachings, traditions, and commandments of men. False teachings like baptism by sprinkling, the immortal soul, Sunday worship, eternal hell-fire, et cetera, are all from the Beast. If we choose to worship in a church that follows these teachings, we are simply following an image of the Beast” (Leo Schreven PROPHECY SEMINARS LESSON 18). Rev. 13:15: “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” Here we see that those who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Are 7th Day Adventists being killed? 2 Thess. 2:3-12: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Notice this happens to those who refuse to believe Jesus is the Christ and do not believe the scripture. Rev 14:7: saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” It does not say worship Him on a certain day but only to worship him. But to 7th day Adventists change this to mean they did not worship him on the right day. What about atheists? They do not worship on any day, have they avoided taking the mark or will they have the mark of the beast without worshipping on Sunday. You can’t have it both ways, either you receive it from worshipping on the wrong day or from not worshipping at all. Rev.20 tells us about those who don’t worship the Beast, does this mean atheists will enter heaven if they don’t worship him? I think it is a bit early to speculate on the identity of the Antichrist, although Adventists seem to be absolutely sure who it is. Biblically he will not even appear on the scene until after we have a one-world government followed by a ten-nation or quadrant division, and He will sign a peace treaty with Israel according to the Scriptures, but not according to 7th day Adventism. Those who remain faithful to the Lord Jesus will refuse this mark, but will be beheaded as a result. This same fate befalls the God fearing who endure to the end. It is also mentioned in the following passage with another possibility for “the saints” “He was given power to make war against THE SAINTS and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast -- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of THE SAINTS” (Rev. 13:7-10). Is anyone being beheaded by the Catholic church today? Rev.20: “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.” So if one does not receive the mark they die not just any way but a specific way. Are those who worship on Saturday are being killed only. Hardly. If the mark has been around for so long why are 7th day Adventists (and other Sabbatarian's) not being beheaded? Matter of fact no one is for this Saturday worship. This means what they perceive as the mark is in fact not! Which makes their whole theology on the Sabbath wrong. How can I say this? Because it all came as a package deal through a revelation by their own unique prophetess-- E.G White. Unanimously the prophets mentioned are men their are no prophecies written by prophetesses that I know of. And they were all in the land of Israel. Rev 19:20 “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Notice the beast is a person, not a system or an office. The mark will definitely be issued one day, we should not be deceived about this, it will be about a leader who wants to be in place of Christ. The people who make the eternal mistake of receiving the mark and worshiping the beast and/or his image will be deceived he is Christ by the accompanying miraculous signs and wonders: “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Rev. 19:20). “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.” (Rev. 20:4-6). Notice it does not say because they kept the Sabbath, which to 7th day Adventists is the crucial point of the mark. Nowhere does it ever say this! The 7th Day teaching of the mark majors on the minors, and when all is said and done I fear for those in 7th Day Adventism because when the real mark comes they won’t be preventing their people from taking it, they have been so convinced it is a day to worship on, Sunday. This deception may very well have eternal consequences on them. They may fall for it because their eyes are on the doctrine of a day, instead of whom this person who wants worship actually is. Heb 10:28-29 "Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. The Bible explicitly says in John 6:28-29, John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” John 8:24 “I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.” (Ephesians 2:5-10 makes it clear how one receives salvation) Scripture is clear in relating the way to salvation under the New Covenant. It was Jesus' work to provide the righteousness we need. It was Jesus' work we need to receive not a broken covenant (Moses’). We are required to believe in Him, (not a day to worship on). In doing so we enter by faith (not by works of the law) into the blessings of the Gospel (Romans 4). |
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