In Revelation chapter 13 , the apostle John wrote, «And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a , and he spoke as a .» The study of this prophecy demonstrates that this beast symbolizes an important political power which arose at the end of the 18th century: this power is the .
Revelation chapter 13 foretells that the United States of America will create a system uniting Church and State. This alliance will produce a religio-political power which the prophecy calls:
«The mark of the beast.»
«The image of the beast.»
«The deadly wound.»
«The number of the beast.»
Revelation chapter 13 says, «Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast.» In the apostle John’s time, there was a well-known game named «Gematria», in which one calculated the number of a name by adding up the numerical value of the letters of this name. Now, the letters of the Pope’s official name indeed add up to 666. The English translation of this official name is:
Supreme Pontiff.
First Bishop of Rome.
Vicar of the Son of God.
Representative of God on earth.
The book of Deuteronomy announces what follows: «And these which I you this day, shall be in your heart. (...) You shall bind them for a sign on your , and they shall be as frontlets between your .» God thus indicates that we must both put His commandments into practice and keep them in mind.
But Revelation chapter 13 announces, «And [the beast] causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right , or in their : and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.» By comparing this verse with the one quoted in Question number 4, we understand that the mark of the beast is opposed to the of God.
In the book of Revelation , the following command is given, «Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.» Among God’s Ten Commandments, which one contains the three components of a seal, that is, the name of the legislator, His title, and the territory covered by His legislation?
The second commandment.
The third commandment.
The fourth commandment.
The seventh commandment.
According to the Word of God, a seal can also be a sign. Now, the book of Ezekiel tells us that the institution of the Sabbath, the seventh day, as the day of rest, is indeed a sign between God and His people: «Hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that...»
«... you are saved by keeping the law.»
«... you are Jews according to the flesh.»
«... you are under the Old Covenant.»
«... I am the Lord your God.»
God’s final warning, reported in the book of Revelation , says, «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 of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His .» Then, we are told what we must do, to avoid receiving the mark of the beast: «Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the of God, and the of Jesus.»
Just as God and His seal, the beast aims at putting his mark on men’s hand and forehead. At Question number 6, we identified the seal of God among His Ten Commandments. Opposed to the seal of God, the mark of the beast will therefore be:
a code placed on all consumer goods.
an electronic microchip put on men’s hand and forehead.
a powerful computer controlling everybody’s life.
the observance of Sunday as the day of rest.
By refusing to worship the beast and to receive its mark, we will take a stand for God, and our forehead will be marked with the seal of God. In the book of Revelation , Jesus gives us this wonderful promise, «He that , the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not his name out of the Book of Life, but I will his name before My Father, and before His angels.» If we sincerely desire it, Jesus will give us the strength we need to remain faithful to Him, especially when we have to choose between worshiping God or worshiping the beast.