9/17/06 - “Prophecy – The Mark of the Beast – Part 1” - 38L - FM
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

This Week: “Prophecy – The Mark of the Beast” – Part 1
(Prayer & Pledge)
We are beginning a series of studies that will clearly identify the mark of the beast. It must be repeated, this is all from the Bible, the Word of God Himself. The prophecies are His and are recorded by His servants the prophets. All the proofs we use to establish Biblical fact are directly from the King James Version. So please understand, there is no attack on any individuals of any denomination. God has never condoned disobedience, however disobedience runs rampant in the Christian world today, along with many man made doctrines that are contrary to God's Word and Will, and are at the root of the worldwide Christian apostasy. 

The prophecies we are studying are meant to open up your understanding to the displeasure that God has in the religious systems of today, and what will happen in the near future, as well as His expressed will for your life.

Now God's truth is likened to a two edged sword. It cuts both ways. We have one of two choices to make. Accept and follow God's Word, or we can reject it and harden our hearts. We are held accountable for the truth we have learned. If you have discovered new truths in these studies, no matter what the sacrifice, Jesus would have us to follow and uphold His truth. With that said, let us now begin this most important Bible study on the mark of the beast..

We have seen how God’s word clearly identified the little horn power in Daniel chapter 7 and the beast power of Revelation chapter 13, as Papal Rome. In both cases there were 9 identifying points, which could fit no other power in history on earth, but the political/religious government of Papal Rome.  

The MOST fearful, awesome and shocking language in the book of Revelation, and for our generation, is used in connection with receiving the MARK of the BEAST. To read how GOD describes the punishment for those who receive the Mark of the Beast, we will now read Revelation 14: 9-11. “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.” 

What is the mark that Papal Rome has set its government against the God of Creation? Listen closely, your eternal life can hang on how you receive the evidence. We begin with the following questions and answers from page 50 of Peter Geiemann's "Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine."
Question. "Which is the Sabbath day?"
Answer. "Saturday is the Sabbath day."

Question. "Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?"
Answer. "We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."

Now there was a man who read the above and was dumbfounded. He sent a letter to James Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, MD, inquiring if the Catholic Church did indeed change the Sabbath. The Cardinal replied, "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." 
Notice the following words from "The Catholic Record" of London, Ontario, Canada, September 1, 1923. "Sunday is our MARK of authority....the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that."

And this from "A Doctrinal Catechism" by Stephen Keenan:
Question. Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?
Answer. 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."

So you see - The Papacy claims it changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. It claims that Sunday-keeping is its mark of authority and power. God's mark or sign of power is the Sabbath and Sabbath-keeping. The beast's sign or mark of power is Sunday and Sunday-keeping. Now this subject may cut across something you have loved from childhood. So read the loving words of Jesus in Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

Did the Papacy really change God's fourth commandment Sabbath to Sunday, or only think that they had changed it? Daniel 7:25 answers that question. "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: "

Note- The message from God is clear, the Papacy only thinks a change has been made. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is still binding. Sunday, the first day of the week, is not a holy day.  According to the commandment, Sunday is one of the six days we are commanded to work. Exodus 20:9 “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:” That’s Sunday through Friday.
 
See what Jesus said about the perpetuity of the law in Matthew 5:18 "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."  

What was God's criticism of His ancient priests or pastors? Are today's priests and pastors any different?  Malachi 2:7-9 "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.” 

Friends- God does not change, Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not;"

He still is hurt when religious leaders are partial to the nine commandments and cause people to stumble over His Sabbath commandment. 
How did the people of Hosea's day regard the great things of God's law? Hosea 8:12 "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.” Things have not changed. If you decide to keep the great holy Sabbath of God's law, people will still consider it a strange thing. 

How do the religious leaders of Ezekiel's day differ from today? God said in Ezekiel's day that the religious leaders were putting no difference between profane and holy things. What specifically did He have in mind? Ezekiel 22:26 "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."

Note-It is still happening today. Many religious leaders say, "There is no difference between Sabbath and Sunday" or they say "Any day will do if you are sincere". But God still says, "Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my Sabbaths", Ezekiel 22:8. God will pour out His "indignation" Ezek 22:31 on those who say, "Thus saith the Lord God when the Lord hath not spoken." Ezek 22:28. 

In order for anyone to claim that God says Sunday is a holy day, when God has only ordained the Sabbath day, is a very serious matter, which He will not overlook. 
 
We are living in the last generation on earth. Satan, the most intelligent created being hates God, he hates God’s Word, he hates God’s law, and he especially hates God’s fourth commandment, the seventh day Sabbath. It was his goal from the fourth century, to get every Christian in the world to worship his counterfeit Pagan sabbath, Sunday. The beast of Revelation 13 received his power from the dragon, Satan, and claims to have changed God’s Sabbath as a Mark of Her Ecclesiastical power, for which she says, there is no scriptural authority.

Friends, I was raised a Methodist, my wife a Catholic. There are many sincere Christians in all denominations. God calls them His people. But the Churches today who are preaching tradition in place of His holy commandment, He calls those churches Babylon, which means confusion. In Revelation 18, God calls His people out of Babylon. These messages are being preached all over the world today, and those who listen are waking up to the truth and the great deceptions Satan has had over God’s people. In Elijah’s day the call was for the children of Israel to choose whom they are going to serve. That same call is going to the Spiritual children of Israel today.

Next week we will continue with this most important study on the mark of the beast. 

Friends, I encourage you to find a Sabbath keeping church near you. You are always welcome to worship with us each seventh day, Lord’s day at the Victory Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 117 W. Danville Street in the center of South Hill, VA. Check us out on the web, victorysdachurch.org.

Next Week: “Prophecy – The Mark of the Beast - Part 2”

Until next week, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Come Lord Jesus.