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                                                                     All scripture taken fro KJV unless otherwise specified

                  THE MARK OF THE BEAST – WHAT IS IT?

           Prophecy has been a fascinating topic for both Christian and non-Christians through the centuries. There is just something intriguing about the thought of being able to know what the future holds before it happens.

        The Bible has a lot to say about the subject of prophecy. This great book has endured the test of time. No other sacred book ever written has proven itself true again and again as the Bible has. Prophesies written thousands of years ago containing the smallest of details have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. The Bible is the book of books and stands alone unmatched not only in dealing with prophecy but with every other aspect of life.

     On thinking about this, my thoughts turn to Christopher Columbus who sailed the cold waters of the ocean in search of a free world. Interestingly enough, at that time people believed that the world was flat and that they may perhaps fall off the edge of it if they sailed out too far. Well, we all know what happened and Chris soon discovered for himself the world was in fact round. Little did they realize that the Bible had already foretold thousands of years earlier, that the earth was round and their fears were completely unfounded. The Bible speaks of the circle of the earth, Isaiah 40:22. Mankind has yet to grasp the infinite wisdom and knowledge contained in the pages of scripture. It is there for the taking and yet too few realize it, or will labor to study and discover the treasures within its pages, and that is to their disadvantage.

      For centuries people have tried to unravel the mystery surrounding the Mark of the Beast but to no avail. What is the Mark of the Beast? Understandably, many feared that they must know what it is so they would not accidentally take it. So stories were concocted as to what this mark could be and of course there was no accurate scriptural bases for their beliefs.

            Even in our day some hold strange beliefs surrounding the Mark.

Some churches have taught, that the Mark of the Beast is when a woman dared to cut her hair. This doctrine has no contextual foundation in scripture whatsoever. This teaching is almost funny. Remember I said, almost. It is actually tragic to think of woman who love God being taught these sorts of things and are held in bondage to obey it. Interestingly enough holding this view, made all men completely exempt from ever being able to take the Mark of the Beast at all. How convenient!

               Another theory comes to mind that is still alive and well and being taught in some churches today. This view holds the belief that if you worship God on a Sunday, rather than on the Sabbath which is Saturday, that that is taking the Mark of the Beast. Holding this view puts all New Testament Christians under the Old Testament Law.  The New Testament clearly tells us that Christians are not under The Old Testament Law ,see the New Testament books of Galations and  Ephesians that will verify this. In the book of Hebrews it also tells Christians that we are under a NEW AND BETTER  Covenant [ Testament] Hebrews. 8:6, .It also warns that if you put yourself under The Law you have fallen from grace and you are then obligated to obey the whole [Old Testament ] Law,  Galations 5: 3-4. Even under the Old Testament Law concerning the Sabbath day, the Bible says nothing about the Mark of the Beast in connection with the Sabbath.

In fact the New Testament says nothing about observing the Sabbath on a certain day at all but actually says quite the opposite, Colossians 2:16.

             We must be so very careful what we listen to. If you are not careful you can make the Bible say almost anything. Both of these teachings use scripture taken out of context to bring about a doctrine.

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          Remember something, just because someone goes to a Seminary or a Bible school does not mean they are authorities on all biblical matters. You can come out of these schools holding a lot of unscriptural views like anybody else and actually be more of a problem  because you have a license to teach it. Its fine if someone wants to go to Bible school or a Seminary but this is not necessity for you to be able to know the Bible or even teach the Bible. These are man made rules.

      God says in His word; You have no need for any man to teach you for the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, 1 John 2:27. Yes, the Bible says, there is a place for teachers, prophets, evangelist, and pastors to help us learn, but we are told we must also commit to study the Bible for ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit, Eph.4: 11-14, 2 Tim. 2:15. He can be our beloved teacher as we learn to follow Him.

 A good Bible teacher will help you to learn how to be grounded in the word of God for yourself. So, be careful to whom you listen to.

 Lets go to our topic, the Mark of the Beast- what is it?

          One of the biggest reasons for the failure to interpret this particular prophecy correctly, has been because people were trying to understand it, before God’s time in revealing its message. Let me explain what I mean. In the book of Daniel, which is a prophetic book, we see that the endtime message of the book, was to be sealed up until the time of the end and only then, could its message be understood,   Daniel 12:4 I believe we are now living in these endtime days spoken of by Daniel..

       Let’s begin by taking a look at a few scriptures which speak of the Mark of the Beast. I will highlight or enlarge certain important words I want you to take special note of and make the main focus of the teaching.

Revelation 13:16-18:

And he causeth all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive A MARK in their right hand or in their foreheads. And that no man [or woman ]    might buy or sell,  save [except] he that has the MARK, or the NAME of the beast or the NUMBER of his name. Here is wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666] .

      The beast that is spoken of in this scripture is someone the Bible calls the Antichrist. The Mark of the Beast is describing the monetary system

 that will be  in place under this mans rule of government. He will have complete authority over this system. These scriptures tell us that a time is coming when we will not be able to buy or sell without t