The Mark of the Beast Intro Is it a credit card? Is it a bar code? Is it a social security number? I’ll be back in a moment with the prophetic perspective on The Mark of the Beast. Message Hello, this is Cody Francis with Prophetic Perspectives. There is nothing more dreaded than the mark of the beast and probably nothing more misunderstood, as well. Many place this mark in the ancient past as referring to Nero or one of the other Caesars. Others place the mark of the beast into the immediate future envisioning a Hollywood style action movie. There is no question that understanding what this mark is and how to avoid it is of utmost importance to a Christian. What is this mark and how we be certain that we do not have it? As we look at this solemn subject, let us come to the Lord in prayer. Outline I. The mark of the beast is willful Sunday worship. A. Central issue = who worship? 1. Call worship Creator – Rev. 14:7 2. Warning worship Beast – Rev. 14:9 3. Creator or Beast? Jesus or Rome? B. Obedience Ten Commandments distinguishes 1. God’s seal = obedient commandments a. Name written foreheads – Rev. 14:1 b. God’s Law heart & mind – Heb. 8:10 c. Keep commandments – Rev. 14:12 2. Beast’s mark = disobedient commandments a. Lawlessness characterizes – 2 Thes. 2:7-9 b. Break one = lawless – James 2:10 c. Many Christians deceived – Matt. 7:21-23 C. God’s seal = Sabbathkeeping 1. Sign = seal – Rom. 4:11 2. God’s sign = Sabbath – Ezek. 20:12, 20 3. Seal found in law – Is. 8:16 4. Elements seal = name, title, dominion 5. All elements in seal – Ex. 20:8-11 6. Not keeping Sabbath last days = receive mark! D. Beast’s mark = Sunday worship 1. Worship beast instead Creator 2. Disobedient instead of obedient 3. Counterfeit God’s seal – Sabbath 4. Mark not literal a. Symbolic – beast, image, name, number b. God looks heart – 1 Sam. 16:7 5. Bible reveal attack on 4th – Dan. 7:25 6. Beast claims as the mark of their authority a. Hand – believe true Sabbath but job, etc. b. Forehead – friends, church – believe a lie! E. Seal = Sabbathkeeping; Mark = Sunday worship F. Issue not just a day 1. Who acknowledge as supreme Ruler & Lord? 2. You are a slave to whom you obey – Rom. 6:16 a. Keep Sabbath, who obey? – God! b. Keep Sunday, who obey? – Beast of Rome 3. Not just a day—who obey? – Acts 5:29 a. So hard: job, etc. – Mark 8:36; Matt. 6:33 b. So hard: friends, family, etc. – Jesus cross G. God calling His people to make a stand 1. Must make a stand! God is calling you! 2. Choose this day whom serve – Jos. 24:15 “Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept? Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” A Doctrinal Catechism, Stephen Keenan, pg. 174. “Sunday is our mark of authority. The Church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” Catholic Record, September 1, 1923
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