The Mark of the Beast, Part Two
'666'
By Dr. Lee Warren, B.A., D.D
See Related Articles: REVELATIONS & END TIME PROPHECIES
Did the man with the mark change over time?
It is quite obvious that the man with the mark has changed over the last 2,000 years (see chart on p. 34). We must understand who had the mark of the beast (666) when John wrote Revelation after seeing it in a vision in A.D. 96. The reigning world power during Johns time was the Roman Empire, ruled by the Caesars. Although tolerant of the many pagan religions scattered among the provinces of Rome, the Caesars used brute force to unite the kingdom. Christianity did not become Romes official religion until the fourth century which by that time was much different from what the Apostles and their disciples had once taught.
What was the early interpretation of Revelation?
When the Apostle John sent the book of Revelation to the seven assemblies, they did not have a full understanding of his writings. One reason for their confusion was that many of the prophecies that John saw and wrote were not intended to occur during his life time, but in the future. These early assemblies, however, thought the images in Johns vision would transpire in their own time or era.
Did the Apostle Johns disciples understand who had the mark of the beast?
It is clear from historical records that not even the disciples of the Apostle John and their students fully understood the reality of the mark of the beast and its number 666. Polycarp (A.D. 69-156), was the last living eyewitness and student of the Apostle John. Ignatius (A.D. 67-110) was also the Apostle Johns disciple. They both wrote epistles, but none of their writings are included in either the Protestant or Roman Catholic Bibles. In their writings, neither Polycarp nor Ignatius referred to Johns Revelation. (See chart on this page.)
The oldest or the first writings to refer to Revelation were written by Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-167) although he did not write about the mark of the beast, according to The Apocalypse of John by Professor Isbon T. Beckwith, Ph.D., D.D. (© 1919 Baker Book House). Most of the commentaries that Justin Martyr made on Revelation (especially the 1000 years and the resurrection) were literal.
Lectures on the Apocalypse by R. H. Charles, D.Litt., D.D., Archdeacon of Westminster, Fellow of the British Academy, verifies this lack of understanding by the early disciples on Revelation. "& some elements of sound methods of interpretation have been preserved in early writers of the Church such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, etc., & But, when we consider the conditions under which scholars addressed themselves in those days to study the Apocalypse [Revelation] we cannot but acknowledge that a valid interpretation was wholly beyond their reach & (p. 3)."
Who was the first after John to write of the 'mark'?
Halleys Bible Handbook and other scholars stated that the second century writer Irenaeus was the first person to mention the mark of the beast (666) after the death of the Apostle John (see chart on p. 34). Irenaeus (120 A.D.?-203 A.D.?), was a pupil of Polycarp, who was the Apostle Johns student. (See chart below.) He wrote the oldest account on the commentaries or interpretations of Revelations and on the mark of the beast (666) in the second century (i.e. between the period 100-200 A.D.). Ireaneus writings reveal what occurred in the 2nd century after the Messiahs death.
In his books against heresy, Irenaeus speculated on the meaning of 666 and suggested three names for the man with the mark of the beast. Nigel Pennick quotes Irenaeus in his book Magical Alphabets (© 1993 Weiser). "The first was Teitan. A second contender was the unexplained Evanthas. The name Evanthas contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Also Lateinos has the number six hundred and sixty-six, and it is a very probable solution, this being the name of the last kingdom (of the four seen by Daniel; p. 71)."
One has to understand that in the day of Irenaeus, the Greek and Latin cultures were dominant. So the mark of the beast was interpreted in terms of these culture's symbols. Now Teitan was a Greek god who opposed the gods of Olympus. According to Nigel Pennick, Teitan represents the power of opposition and the destruction of the established order. Lateinos means Latin Kingdom and represents the Roman Empire that ruled over the whole world at that time.
Did Irenaeus put the 'mark' on the Roman Empire?
Irenaeus clearly tied the mark of the beast to the fourth beast (the last kingdom) that Daniel saw in his vision. Many in his day assumed that the beast was the Roman Empire. One must understand the Jewish mind set during the time that the Apostle John had his vision. They resisted the Roman Empire who oppressed the Jewish communities.
During this period, there was a group within the Jewish community called the Zealots who wanted to overthrow the Roman Empires yoke of bondage (see "Divisions Among the Jews in Yahshua's Time," in the "Did You Know?" section of the November/December 1993 issue of the "PLIM REPORT"). The Zealots were a religious and political movement, who wanted freedom to establish a kingdom and serve Yahweh according to the Law of Moses. Harold Mattingly in his book Christianity in the Roman Empire (© 1967 W. W. Norton) states the following about the Zealots and the Jews: "Unlike most of the people of the Empire the Jews could not forget their lost independence. In spite of all Roman toleration for their religion, they hated Rome and dreamed of a Messiah who should set them free....the Zealots maintained armed resistance and hoped for nothing less than complete deliverance from Rome (p. 15-16)." It was the Zealots' rebellion against the Roman Empire that caused the Roman army to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70, as the Messiah prophesied in the 24th Chapter of Matthew.
Why did the Jews think Pagan Rome had the mark of the beast?
Professor Isbon T. Beckwith, Ph.D., D.D. illustrated the meaning of the mark of the beast (666) to the Jews during this time in his book The Apocalypse of John. He states: "It [the Old Testament] is written, as is argued, entirely in a Jewish spirit, without original Christians traces; it pictures Jewish horror of emperor-worship and a hatred of Rome as persecutor and conqueror of the Jewish people;& the Jewish character &. is seen especially in the abhorrence of the Roman coins bearing the image of the emperor (verse 17), which it was sinful to touch& (p. 644)"
Adela Yarbro Collins in her book The Apocalypse (© 1979, M. Glazrer, Inc.) confirms the meaning of the mark of the beast at this time by the Jews. "The mark of the beast then symbolic of allegiance to Rome. Rev. 13:17 implies that those without the mark were prevented from buying and selling. Now Roman coins generally bare the image and nature of the current emperor. Refusal to use such coins at least would inhibit severely ones ability to buy and sell in Asia Minor& The Zealots, who rebelled against Rome in 66-70 A.D., refused to carry, look at, or manufacture coins bearing any sort of image (p. 96)."
From these two quotations, one can understand how the seven assemblies interpreted the book of Revelation that the Apostle John sent to them. None of these assemblies associated the 'mark of the beast' with the Roman Catholic Church because they did not know that the Roman Empire would fall and the Roman Catholic Church would rule in its place. That event happened about 300 years later. Since many Jews, especially those that followed the Messiah, considered the Roman Empire the beast, it follows that the emperor must also manifest this mark of the beast (666).
Did Nero Caesar have the 'mark' (666)?
The mark of the beast was placed on Roman Emperors and the man who carried the 'mark' varied over time. Many Roman Catholics placed this mark on the Roman Emperor Nero Caesar (37-68 A.D.). They did not attach this mark to his name and title, however, until about 300 A.D. according to W. Tyndale's New Bible Dictionary, second edition (copyright 1962, Inter-Varsity Press, p. 826-827). Well after the Apostle Johns vision of Revelation, Roman Catholics looked back on the most wicked Roman Caesars, and elected Nero as one of the worse. He ruled at the time of the Apostle Pauls trial (Acts 25-28) and scapegoated the true believers for the burning of Rome in A.D. 64.
According to the Dictionary of the Bible by James Hastings (© 1963 Scribners): "His reign began on the murder of Claludiaus in A.D. 54. & Nero inherited evil qualities from his father and mother, which for the first five years of his life were kept in check by his tutors. & When of age to throw off all restraints, he plunged into follies and excesses which suggest that madness had unhinged his mind (p. 697)."
When a fire broke out in Rome on July 19, A.D. 64 and raged for nine days devastating the city, the populace suspected Nero "and were anxious to bring retribution on the originators of the fire. Nero selected the Christians as scapegoats & They were subjected to every variety of cruel death. & The precedent remained that & profession of Christianity was punishable (p. 697)." The Roman Catholics placed the number 666 on Nero by counting the numerical value of each Hebrew letter in Nero Caesars name, which will be discussed later in this article.
When did Christianity become the official religion of Rome?
The Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion in 325 A.D. to unite the Empire. Since the Roman Empire had the mark of the beast associated with it, it follows that the head of the Roman Catholic Church would receive it too. This is especially true historically since the western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D., and the Papacy and the Church filled this vacuum. The following quote from Halleys Handbook verifies the church's rise in world power. "Silvester I (314-335), was the Bishop of Rome when, under Constantine, Christianity was virtually made the State Religion of the Roman Empire. The Church immediately became an institution of vast importance in World Politics. Constantine regarded himself as head of the Church. He called the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) and presided over it, the First World Council of the Church (p. 769)." Now Halleys goes on to state Simplicius (468-483 A.D.) was the Pope of Rome when the Empire came to and end (476 A.D.), which left the Popes free from Civil Authority.
When was the number 666 placed on the papacy?
There was no more progress made in understanding Revelation and the mark until near the end of the middle ages, or the beginning with the 12th century. As soon as the ninth century, corruption in the Roman Catholic hierarchy began to open the eyes of many of the priests within the church.
R. H. Charles, D.Litt. wrote about the papacy in the book Lectures on The Apocalypse. "The Papacy had just reached the zenith of its power under Innocent III. It claimed supreme authority alike over things sacred and secular. In his inaugural sermon in 1198 Innocent declared: I am the Vicar of Jesus Christ the successor of Peter; I am placed between God and man; less than God, greater than man: I judge all men but can be judged of none. The establishment of the Inquisition a few years later followed logically on such claims: likewise the massacre of the Albigenses, and the demand that the civil authorities should henceforth exterminate all who refused to accept the dogmas laid down by the Church (The Schweich Lectures, 1919, p. 4)." [Note: The massacre of Albigenses was a bloody war of extermination ordered by Innocent III in 1208. This crusade was against a group called the Albigenses or Carthari, forerunners of the reformation, who opposed the immoralities of Roman Catholic Church (Halleys Bible Handbook, 24th Edition, 1965, p. 785.)]
Did an insider spot the corruption in the Church?
Joachim of Floris (1145-1202 A.D.), a Roman Catholic abbot, severely criticized the corruption of the papacy. Many used his interpretation of Revelation and considered him one of the great theologians of this era.
According to R. H. Charles, D.Litt., D.D., the Franciscan order of priests, who considered Joachim a prophet, identified the Pope with the Antichrist, an opponent who persecutes Gods people and is ultimately conquered by the Messiah. It was soon after the Joachim's death that the Franciscans said the Pope was the man with the mark of the beast. In the book Lectures on the Apocalypse, R. H. Charles stated: "Thus soon after Joachims day we find Peter John Olivi (1248-1298) declaring the Papacy to be the mystical Antichrist and Ubertino di Casale identifying Boniface VIII with the first Beast in chapter xiii and Benedict XI with the second (p. 4)."
Did early identification of the Pope with the Anti-Christ serve for later movements?
These twelfth century advocates served as the basis for the Reformation. It began in 1517 with Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses opposing indulgences, which will be discussed later in this article, on the church door in Wittenberg. Most of the Protestant leaders referred to the Papacy as having the mark of the beast.
According to Anthony Kemp in his book The Estrangement of the Past (© 1991, Oxford University Press), John Wycliff (1324-1384) was the first writer who appealed to common people to equate the pope with the Antichrist which was before the Protestant Reformation period.
Wycliff was an English religious reformer, who translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into the first English Bible. Mr. Kemp said: "The first writer to equate the pope with the antichrist in plain words and to find an audience beyond a cultic sect was John Wycliff,& (p. 67)."
Prior to Wycliffs writing about the pope, Dante (1265-1321), an Italian poet who wrote Divine Comedy, allegorically referred to the Roman Catholic Church as the whore in Revelation 17:3 in his work Purgatorio. The penalty for speaking out directly against the Church at this time was death.
Before we associate the number 666 with letters in various alphabets, let us trace the mark of the beast through the Bible.
Was the 'mark' first mentioned in the Bible with Cain & Abel?
According to the Bible, the mark was first mentioned in Genesis and placed on Cain who committed the first murder on earth by slaying his brother, Abel. Cain was envious because Yahweh Elohim accepted his brother's sacrifice and did not accept his.
The mark was placed on the man Cain so that none of his brothers would kill him for murdering Abel. Now Cain said to Yahweh: "Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And Yahweh (the Lord) said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Yahweh (the Lord) set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him (Gen. 4:14-15)." Clearly, Cains beastly nature caused him to kill his brother.
The mark enables us to follow these negative or beastly principles down through the ages of time. Dr. Henry C. Kinley in his book, Elohim the Archetypal Original Pattern of the Universe, states the purpose of the 'mark of the beast.' ".& THE FIRST MURDERER, whom Yahweh-Elohim placed a MARK upon, establishing an event in the visible earth plane. It was the Purpose of Yahweh to place a MARK on Cain to reveal the Mystery of Iniquity and the MARK OF THE BEAST - 6 6 6 - operating through the Ages and will continue to the end of time when he shall be destroyed (Vol. 4, p. 16)."
No one knew what this mark was because Moses was not allowed to write it when he wrote the book of Genesis, which he saw in a vision on top of Mt. Sinai 1490 years before the birth of the Messiah. It was not until the Apostle Johns vision of Revelation, after the death of the Messiah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that this mark was revealed (Rev. 13:18). This showed that both Moses and the Apostle Johns vision confirmed one another.
Dr. Kinley also states why the 'mark' was placed in the hand and upon the forehead of Cain. "Therefore, Satan, the wicked Angelic Spirit incarnated himself in "A MAN" Cain, whom Yahweh-Elohim MARKED in his FOREHEAD and in his HAND (Gen. 4:15) with the SATANIC NUMBER "6 6 6." Because of his jealous and depraved "MIND," Cain slew his brother Abel with his HAND (Elohim the Archetypal Original Pattern of the Universe, Vol. 4; p. 16)."
Is the number 666 mentioned somewhere else in the Old Testament?
It should be noted that the only place the number 666 appears in the Old Testament is with King Solomon when he met the Queen of Sheba after building a house for Yahweh. The number refers to the weight of gold talents that the kings and queens gave him as gifts in one year. "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold (2 Chr 9:13, I Kings 10:14);"
Although the number is hidden in a mystery, it appears again in the Bible in the dimensions of the golden image built by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the number of musicians who played at the celebration. The image was 6 cubits wide and 60 cubits in height. There were also 6 musicians present which gives the number 666 (Dn. 3:1-7). At the time that the musicians played, everyone was required to bow to this golden image. If they did not, the king ordered them to be thrown into the fiery furnace. Three Israelites Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego refused and they were thrown into the furnace (Dn. 3:14-20). For their obedience to the Law of Moses, Elohim delivered them, miraculously saving them unsinged (Dan. 3rd Chapter).
Here we see that everyone bowed to the golden image except the three Israelites who were forbidden by law to bow to any idol (Exo. 20: 3-5; Dn. 3:20-24; See Golden Idol Israel built Ex. 33rd Chapter). The spiritual principle here is that all humans are required to glorify the Father Yahweh and not any creature posing as the creator. Although the mark of the beast (666) was placed on Nebuchadnezzars image, the number was not obvious. The Holy Spirit would have to reveal it to a man before he would understand.
Can we idolize an image of the beast today?
Paul explained the spiritual reality of how the image of the beast seeks to replace the image of Elohim. "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible Elohim (God) into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.Who changed the truth of Elohim (God) into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever (Rom 1:23-25)."
Philip E. Hughes in his book The Book of Revelation (©1990 Eerdmans) explains the modern day image of the beast spiritually and psychologically today. It represents the political and philosophical dogma that is supposed to bring spiritual enlightenment, such as Materialism, Communism, Capitalism, Nazism, etc.. "The church has been secularized by bowing to the political and philosophical temper of the age, and in doing so has accepted the devils mark of salvation which in reality is the mark of perdition for the objective of the devils fraudulent imitations is always the negation and the overturning of the divine order (p. 153). In short, political and philosophical power has denied the power of the Holy Spirit. To see the impact of any image upon the mind (see the article the "The Parable of the Wheat and Tares," p. 20 in this issue).
We will proceed to explain what the number 6 symbolizes to clearly understand the mark of the beast.
What does the number 6 represent?
In Hebrew theology, the number 6 has special meaning. It represents the number of a man who was created on the 6th day of Moses vision. Now 6 is one short of the number 7 which in Hebrew theology represents perfection. Elohim worked 7 days to complete or perfect creation. The three 6s represent man being incomplete in each of the three ages of time (see illustration on p. 37). The number 6 symbolically represents man in an undeveloped spiritual state which Paul called being carnal minded (Rom. 8:6). This state of mind is under the control of fallen angels.
What number did John see?
As was stated earlier, no one knew what the 'mark' was that Yahweh placed on Cain until the Apostle John saw it in his vision. The number he saw was "Six hundred threescore and six." A score is twenty, and 3 times 20 = 60. Thus, the number is 600+60+6=666.
You may question how this was revealed to John? The words that John heard in his vision were spoken in Hebrew. Many do not know that each letter of the Hebrew alphabet also has number value. This was also true of the Greek, Chaldean, Babylonian, and Phoenician alphabets. Now 666 is written in Hebrew using the following numerical letters: [Mem (final)]= 600 + [Samekh] = 60 + [Vau] = 6. The total is 666 (see diagram above).
Do words have numeric values?
A system called gemetria associates letters of the alphabets, mainly Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Chaldean, etc., with numerical values. So all words in Hebrew, or these others alphabets, have a numerical value. There are countless numbers of Hebrew words that add up to the number 666.
Now these words and their corresponding numbers are the hidden side of the scriptures. Words may be spelled differently, but have the same numerical value. This means that, in principle, they have the same spiritual meaning although that might not be apparent when the words are used in their usual context. Examples of this are seen with the number 666.
Did 666 'mark' Rome?
The city of Rome was originally called Saturnalia. Sir James George Frazer in his book The Golden Bough (© 1922 Collier Books, p. 675) states the dwellers of the city worshipped the god of Saturn, who governed sowing and husbandry. The feast day to this god lasted seven days from the 17th -23rd of December. According to Alexander Hislop, the letters in Saturns name adds up to the number 666 in the Chaldean or Babylonian alphabets (The Two Babylons, © 1853 Loizeaux brothers; see chart on p. 35). Hislop adds up the number values of the letters S=60; A=0; T=400; U=6; R=200; N=0, that equals 666. Here we have the mark of the beast (666) on the city Rome.
Does the Greek name for Rome equal 666?
Irenaeus wrote the first account of the mark of the beast. He referred to the Roman Empire led by the Caesars as Lateinos, which means the Latin Kingdom. Ralph Woodrow in his book Babylon Mystery Religion (p. 104) stated that by using the Greek alphabet, the numerical value of each letter of the word Lateinos; totals the number 666 (see chart on p. 35). He adds L=50; A=1; T=300; E=5; I=10; N-50; O=70; S=200.
Did the Caesars of Rome carry the 'mark of the beast'?
One of the first Roman emperors to have this number 666 placed on him was Nero C(K)aesar who committed suicide in A.D. 68. Using the Hebrew and the Aramaic alphabet Nero is spelled Nero(n). There is a n added to the end of his name. Adding each of these numerical values of the letters one gets the sum of 666 (N=50; E=0; R=200; O=6; (N)=50; K=100; A=0; E=0; S=60; A=0; R=200, see chart on p. 35). This placed the 'mark' (666) on the pagan Roman Empire ruled by the Caesars. Many in the Roman Catholic hierarchy believed that Nero was the man who has the mark of the beast.
Was the Pope of Rome marked with the number 666?
Ralph Woodrow states that the popes title, Vicar of Christ, adds up to the 'mark of the beast' (666) in Latin and this had been known for over 300 years. He said:"&we believe the claim that the pope is the Vicar of Christ" is without any basis in fact. As early as the year 1612 it was pointed out, as Andreas Helwig did in his book Roman Antichrist, that the title "Vicar of Christ" has the numerical value of 666. Written as "Vicar of the Son of God" in Latin, Vicarivs Filii Dei, the letters with numerical value are these: I equal 1 (used six times), L equals 50, V equals 5, C equals 100, and D equals 500. When these are all counted up, the total is 666 (Babylon Mystery Religion, (© 1966 R. Woodrow Evangelistic Association, Inc.), p. 103)."
It should be noted that popes began to use the title Vicar of Christ from the 12th century on, according to R.W. Southern in his book Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages (© 1972 Penguin Books). He states the following "From about the middle of the twelfth century, the popes began for the first time to take the title Vicar of Christ and to claim it for themselves alone. In the past, kings and priests had called themselves Vicars of Christ; but not the pope .& Innocent III could deliberately sweep aside the limitation implied in the old title: We are the successor of the Prince of the Apostles, but we or not his vicar, nor the vicar of any man or Apostle, but the vicar of Jesus Christ himself (p. 104-105)."
Can actions mark a man?
Regardless of whether one believes the mark of the beast is literally on the Roman Catholic Church or not, which many debate, the history of the Church over the last two thousand years shows that it has behaved in a beastly manner. No one can deny those people that the popes killed, tortured, and massacred from the 12th - 16th century during the Inquisitions. Anyone that refused to accept the doctrine of the Church was punished. This does not include the many wars caused by the popes, nor all the Indians of North and South America that were killed in the New World by the Roman Catholic Spaniards, French, and Portuguese. [Note to the reader; Avro Mahattan in his book The Vatican in World Politics (© 1949 Gaer) explains how the Vatican is seeking to control many of the countries of the worlds and is behind many wars. The book La Popessa by Paul Murphy (© 1983 Warner Books Inc.; p.52) explains that the Roman Catholic Church supported Hitler.] It is the blood of those souls "slain for the word of Yahweh" under the golden altar that cry to Him for vengeance (Rev. 6:9-11).
Before concluding this article, we will examine the doctrine of buying and selling. The Apostle John said that only those that have the mark of the beast could buy and sell (Rev. 13:17). Now the question arises; what is being bought and sold?
Can a man buy a lie and sell the truth?
Dr. Henry C. Kinley in his book explains the spiritual reality of why one cannot buy or sell unless he has the mark of the beast. "Esau, the first born of the twins with the robust, hairy body (like the body of the Natural Brute Beast, without the Spirit of Righteousness - 2 Pet. 2:12-19, prefigured the Satanic body of the Beast Man of Sin), SOLD his birthright to Jacob for a MORSEL OF BREAD AND LENTILES and he did EAT AND DRINK (Gen. 25:30-34). (By Esau selling his birthright for a morsel of bread, under the Dispensation between Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or before the Law was given, prefigures the betrayal of Yahshua by Judas Iscariot, with Satan incarnated in him, that the scriptures might be fulfilled. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scriptures may be fulfilled, He that EATETH BREAD with me hath lifted up HIS HEEL AGAINST ME (John 13:18; Psa. 41:9; Matt. 26:19-25)."
It is quite clear that Judas had a beastly mind or the mark of the beast, for he betrayed Yahshua the Messiah, the Truth, the Light and the Way (Jn. 146). In reality, Judas sold the truth and bought a lie. The Jewish religious leaders also had this 'mark of the beast' for bribing Judas to betray the Messiah. In addition, David wrote: "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee (Ps. 73:22)." Although David slew Goliath, was made King of Israel to replace wicked King Saul, and won many battles, he knew he had a beastly nature that needed to be transformed.
Who would sell their birthright?
Now Dr. Kinley goes on to say: "Remember Satan left his created estate and was cast out of Heaven (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4), and as Eve allowed Satan to persuade or cause her to TOUCH and EAT of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; likewise, Satan and his ministers, or his so-called Priests are causing the people to be DECEIVED and SELL their Spiritual Birthright by teaching them to believe that they are Transubstantiating the Bread and Wine into the actual Physical Body and Blood of Yahshua the Messiah. In so doing, they are EATING and DRINKING damnation to themselves, not discerning the Messiahs Body (1 Cor. 11:29), which they falsely claim they are administering at the so-called Sacramental Altar in the Roman Catholic Church (vol. 4 p. 23)."
Who is buying and selling today?
Finally, Dr. Kinley states what the 'mark' is today. "The Papacy being the Mother Church, represented by the woman that sat upon the scarlet colored beast with a name written upon her forehead, "Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abomination of the Earth" (Rev. 17:5), followed by Protestantism and others, have restored Carnal Ordinances, such as Water Baptism, Foot Washing, Lords Suppers, etc. which were practiced under the Dispensation of the Law and fulfilled by Yahshua and nailed to the Cross (Col. 2:14). They that practice such things (worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in their forehead and in their hand) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Yahweh, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone and cast into the Lake of Fire (Vol. 4; p. 17)." Let us briefly examine Indulgences, the worst form of buying and selling known to mankind and prove this activity definitely has the mark of the beast upon it.
Why did the Papacy create
the buying and selling of Indulgences?
No man has devised a better system of buying or selling than the Papacy. The Catholic Church created Indulgences as the one chief source of Papal revenue. Space is not available for an in depth analysis of the Indulgence. Simply put, according to the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia an indulgence is a piece of paper or certificate with the pope's signature. Roman Catholics believe that the Pope has the exclusive power to lessen or remit the suffering of souls in Purgatory, a place that is much like hell and where everyone that dies must go for a period of time. Catholics believe that purchasing an indulgence can pardon all sins of the buyer and their friends without confession, repentance, penance, or absolution of the priests. Thus, an indulgence offers the sinner a means of discharging this debt during life on earth. Many in the Roman Catholic Church believe that as soon as payment is made, the soul leaves purgatory. This is the greatest sham perpetrated upon mankind causing many to lose their souls.
Did the Papacy control mens lives?
Now another source of Papal power was in the Churchs legal system set to govern all things. According to Will Durant in his book The Story of Civilization: Age of Faith, he states that Pope Alexander III, in 1170 A.D., issued an edict which forbade anyone from making out a will without a priest being present.
R.W. Southern in his book Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages (© 1972 Penguin Books) illustrates the power of this papal system. He states: "The theory of papal supremacy is certainly one of the grandest, most integrated, and best developed systems that have ever been devised for the conduct of human life (p. 105)." This system, however, is contrary to the Apostle's writings.
The Apostle Peter states that human souls cannot be purchased with money: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Pet. 1:18-19):" Clearly, anyone can see this Roman Catholic system makes merchandise, buys and sells, human souls, and is the fulfillment of what the Apostle John saw in his vision in Revelation (Rev. 18:11-13).
Conclusion
This article has traced the 'mark of the beast' through time and saw it transfer from Pagan to Papal Rome. The 'mark of the beast' found on names of men, cities, and titles helps us identify the depraved state of the beast man of sin. We have explained the spiritual reality of the mark of the beast--the degenerative nature of man, and proven it using the Bible, modern psychology, and the history of mankind. In this state, mankind is under the influence of satanic spirits. It is important to realize, however, that man has some responsibility for his actions and this can be overcome by the Holy Spirit.
Anyone that denies the power of the Spirit within them, is truly the Anti-Christ (1 Jn. 4:3) from a spiritual and psychological standpoint. One has to always keep in mind that we are saved by Grace through FAITH, not of works of ourselves or the pope (Eph. 2:8-9). To deny the Bible is one thing, but to deny the Spirit working within ones mind is another. There is not a man, woman, or child who has not heard the voice or received an inspired idea from Spirit (Psalm 19:1-4).
Does the visible reflect the invisible?
The Pope and the physical kingdoms of this world are just visible manifestations of mans willful disobedience to the Spirit within. Its like viewing the outward sign of evil or the beast man in the worldmacrocosm (the Pope). There is, however, a more immediate concern within our own psyche or soul, and seeing the beastly nature therethe microcosm.
It is clear, not only throughout history, but in everyday life, that those that are controlled by the beastly nature eventually self destruct. For example, uncontrollable anger will destroy any individual. (See article on Anger, p. 16) John verifies this principle in Revelation. He states that all that have this mark of the beast (666)beastly naturewill be destroyed by Yahweh Elohim. Since Revelation declared the city of Rome to be the center of wickedness in this age, there is no question that it will be destroyed in the same manner as those individuals who are controlled by this beastly nature (Rev. 17:16-18).
The Irish prophet Malachy (1094-1148), and Michel Nostradamus both predicted the destruction of Rome before the Judgement and the new age. [Note to the reader: St. Malachy prophesied the name of the 120 popes and states there will be only two more left after John Paul II.]
Finally, we see that this 'mark' is already here to those that have eyes to see and will manifest itself more as this beastly nature becomes worse (Job 7:20; Rom. 16:17).
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© 1996 PLIM, Inc.