Lesson-15

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

THE BEAST, HIS IMAGE, and HIS MARK

Introduction: In the Third Angel’s Message in Rev. 14:9-11, there is a warning against worshiping the Beast, and his Image, and receiving his Mark. Who is the Beast? Who or what is his Image? What is his Mark, and how do we receive it in our forehead or our hand? These are questions for which we will seek to find answers in this lesson.

1. Is the Beast of Rev. 13 the same as the Beast in Rev. 14, and is the Image and the Mark connected with the Beast in Rev. 14 referring to the same Beast in Chapter 13?

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Note: As we read about the first Beast in Rev. 13, and it speaks about his Image and his Mark which are not mentioned in connection with any other beast, we have to conclude that they are speaking about the same Beast.

2. What characteristics will help us to identify the Beast? Rev. 13:5-7.

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3. Who gave power to the Beast? Rev. 13:4.

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4. Who is the Dragon? Rev. 12:9.

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Note: Or could it also be pagan Rome? This is borne out in Rev. 12. There it speaks of the Man Child, whom they tried to destroy, but was finally caught up to heaven. This could only apply to Jesus. Pagan Rome was in power at this time, and Herod tried to kill the Baby Jesus. See Matt. 2:1-18, and Luke 2:1-7.

5. What power in the book of Daniel meets the same specifications? Dan. 7:20-25,8.

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6. Then, who is the Beast? Who only fulfills the blueprint?

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Note: There is only one power that meets all the characteristics of the Beast of Rev. 13 and 14, and the Little Horn of Dan. 7. It has to be a power that thinks to change times and laws, speaks blasphemy against the Most High, and makes war or persecutes God’s commandment-keeping people, and who comes into power after pagan Rome, and lastly remains in power for a time, times, and a dividing of times, or forty-two months, or twelve hundred sixty days, which prophetically symbolizes twelve hundred sixty years.

The decree of Emperor Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the Pope as the “head of all the holy churches.” The overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later, A.D. 538, was the death-blow to pagan domination. Thus 538 was a notable date in the development of papal supremacy. The year 1793 was the year of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, and the year when the Catholic religion was set aside in France, and the worship of reason was established in its stead. As a direct result of the revolt against papal authority in the French Revolution, the French army, under General Berthier, entered Rome, and took the Pope prisoner on Feb. 10, 1798. Thus the papacy received the “deadly wound,” as prophesied in Rev. 13:3, and which ended 1260 years of rule and persecution.

THE LAMB-LIKE BEAST

7. What are some of the identifying characteristics of the second beast in Rev. 13? Rev. 13:11,12.

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Note: This is the only prophetic beast that does not come up out of the sea. Is there some significance to this? Rev. 17:15 tells us what water symbolizes--”peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Then what would earth signify? Would it not denote a place where there were few or no people, a new unpopulated land? It would have to come into prominence at the right time,--at the end of the 1260 years, around 1798. The United States meets these qualifications. In the beginning this new land was, for the most part, a peaceable country, promoting the rights of the people, but it will not always be so. The time will come when this Lamb-like Beast will speak “as a dragon.” He will not only act like first Beast, but will enforce the worship of Roman Catholicism, which will involve keeping Sunday--the false Sabbath, and give life unto an Image of this Beast.

THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

8. What are the characteristics given about this Image of the Beast? Rev. 13:14-17.

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Note: It is the United States of America--the Lamb-like Beast--which gives life and power unto this Image and allows it to speak. The Beast which it images, we found out earlier, is the Roman Catholic Church--which is an ecclesiastical religious power that apostatized from God by uniting herself with the various State Governments who, in turn, enforced the decrees of Rome throughout the known world. So the Image of this Beast would also have to be an ecclesiastical religious power which also apostatizes from God, by destroying the barrier between church and state, and uniting herself with the Government of the United States who will, in turn, enforce its decrees throughout the world. What is the only religious power in America who could fulfill this prophecy of this Image of the Beast?

The various Protestant churches in America have already shown their influence and force in the political circles of America. They already boast of being able, through their numbers, of electing candidates to fill various Governmental offices--including the Presidency. Soon their apostasy from God will show itself to be complete, the wall of separation between church and state will be totally destroyed and their union with the U.S. Government will take place, and America will take the forefront in enforcing their decrees around the world. Thus America will indeed give life unto this Image of Catholicism, and anyone who will not go along with their decrees will not be able to buy or sell and many will be killed, except they receive the Mark.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

8. What is another word with a similar meaning?

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Note: The Mark of the Beast must be important, for it is mentioned often in Revelation. (See Rev. 20:4; 19:20; 16:2; 15:2: 14:9,11; 13:16.17) Also there seems to be some special meaning to having a mark or a seal in the forehead. When it is called a “mark,” it refers to the Mark of the Beast. The “seal” in the forehead is the Seal of God. (Eze. 9:4,6; Rev. 7:2,3; 9:4) What does “forehead” imply? Is it not referring to the mind? When we accept or believe something, it is with our mind. What about “in the hand?” If we do not accept or believe something, but go along with it anyway to avoid problems or confrontation, we are receiving the mark in the hand.

9. But what is the mark or seal? Isa. 8:16.

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Note: This text links the sealing with the Law. This is talking about God’s Law. The Mark refers to the law of the Beast. In the lesson on the Fourth Commandment, we learned it was the Seal of God. The Mark of the Beast then has to be contrary to the Fourth Commandment. Sunday is the Mark of the Beast. There have been constant efforts to enforce the keeping of Sunday. In fact, we have Sunday laws in the United States which have not been enforced very much yet, but will be in the near future. This is what these prophecies are forecasting. Thus we see we need to study and understand the Bible prophecies so we will be able to make the right choices.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Bible Studies Lesson 15 THE BEAST, HIS IMAGE, and HIS MARK Introduction: In the Third Angel’s Message in Rev. 14:9-11, there is a warning against worshiping the Beast, and his Image, and receiving his Mark. Who is the Beast? Who or what is his Image? What is his Mark, and how do we receive it in our forehead or our hand? These are questions for which we will seek to find answers in this lesson. 1. Is the Beast of Rev. 13 the same as the Beast in Rev. 14, and is the Image and the Mark connected with the Beast in Rev. 14 referring to the same Beast in Chapter 13? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: As we read about the first Beast in Rev. 13, and it speaks about his Image and his Mark which are not mentioned in connection with any other beast, we have to conclude that they are speaking about the same Beast. 2. What characteristics will help us to identify the Beast? Rev. 13:5-7. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Who gave power to the Beast? Rev. 13:4. ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Who is the Dragon? Rev. 12:9. ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: Or could it also be pagan Rome? This is borne out in Rev. 12. There it speaks of the Man Child, whom they tried to destroy, but was finally caught up to heaven. This could only apply to Jesus. Pagan Rome was in power at this time, and Herod tried to kill the Baby Jesus. See Matt. 2:1-18, and Luke 2:1-7. 5. What power in the book of Daniel meets the same specifications? Dan. 7:20-25,8. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Then, who is the Beast? Who only fulfills the blueprint? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: There is only one power that meets all the characteristics of the Beast of Rev. 13 and 14, and the Little Horn of Dan. 7. It has to be a power that thinks to change times and laws, speaks blasphemy against the Most High, and makes war or persecutes God’s commandment-keeping people, and who comes into power after pagan Rome, and lastly remains in power for a time, times, and a dividing of times, or forty-two months, or twelve hundred sixty days, which prophetically symbolizes twelve hundred sixty years. The decree of Emperor Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the Pope as the “head of all the holy churches.” The overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later, A.D. 538, was the death-blow to pagan domination. Thus 538 was a notable date in the development of papal supremacy. The year 1793 was the year of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, and the year when the Catholic religion was set aside in France, and the worship of reason was established in its stead. As a direct result of the revolt against papal authority in the French Revolution, the French army, under General Berthier, entered Rome, and took the Pope prisoner on Feb. 10, 1798. Thus the papacy received the “deadly wound,” as prophesied in Rev. 13:3, and which ended 1260 years of rule and persecution. THE LAMB-LIKE BEAST 7. What are some of the identifying characteristics of the second beast in Rev. 13? Rev. 13:11,12. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: This is the only prophetic beast that does not come up out of the sea. Is there some significance to this? Rev. 17:15 tells us what water symbolizes--”peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Then what would earth signify? Would it not denote a place where there were few or no people, a new unpopulated land? It would have to come into prominence at the right time,--at the end of the 1260 years, around 1798. The United States meets these qualifications. In the beginning this new land was, for the most part, a peaceable country, promoting the rights of the people, but it will not always be so. The time will come when this Lamb-like Beast will speak “as a dragon.” He will not only act like first Beast, but will enforce the worship of Roman Catholicism, which will involve keeping Sunday--the false Sabbath, and give life unto an Image of this Beast. THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST 8. What are the characteristics given about this Image of the Beast? Rev. 13:14-17. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: It is the United States of America--the Lamb-like Beast--which gives life and power unto this Image and allows it to speak. The Beast which it images, we found out earlier, is the Roman Catholic Church--which is an ecclesiastical religious power that apostatized from God by uniting herself with the various State Governments who, in turn, enforced the decrees of Rome throughout the known world. So the Image of this Beast would also have to be an ecclesiastical religious power which also apostatizes from God, by destroying the barrier between church and state, and uniting herself with the Government of the United States who will, in turn, enforce its decrees throughout the world. What is the only religious power in America who could fulfill this prophecy of this Image of the Beast? The various Protestant churches in America have already shown their influence and force in the political circles of America. They already boast of being able, through their numbers, of electing candidates to fill various Governmental offices--including the Presidency. Soon their apostasy from God will show itself to be complete, the wall of separation between church and state will be totally destroyed and their union with the U.S. Government will take place, and America will take the forefront in enforcing their decrees around the world. Thus America will indeed give life unto this Image of Catholicism, and anyone who will not go along with their decrees will not be able to buy or sell and many will be killed, except they receive the Mark. THE MARK OF THE BEAST 8. What is another word with a similar meaning? ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: The Mark of the Beast must be important, for it is mentioned often in Revelation. (See Rev. 20:4; 19:20; 16:2; 15:2: 14:9,11; 13:16.17) Also there seems to be some special meaning to having a mark or a seal in the forehead. When it is called a “mark,” it refers to the Mark of the Beast. The “seal” in the forehead is the Seal of God. (Eze. 9:4,6; Rev. 7:2,3; 9:4) What does “forehead” imply? Is it not referring to the mind? When we accept or believe something, it is with our mind. What about “in the hand?” If we do not accept or believe something, but go along with it anyway to avoid problems or confrontation, we are receiving the mark in the hand. 9. But what is the mark or seal? Isa. 8:16. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: This text links the sealing with the Law. This is talking about God’s Law. The Mark refers to the law of the Beast. In the lesson on the Fourth Commandment, we learned it was the Seal of God. The Mark of the Beast then has to be contrary to the Fourth Commandment. Sunday is the Mark of the Beast. There have been constant efforts to enforce the keeping of Sunday. In fact, we have Sunday laws in the United States which have not been enforced very much yet, but will be in the near future. This is what these prophecies are forecasting. Thus we see we need to study and understand the Bible prophecies so we will be able to make the right choices.