Mark of the beast is sunday laws.
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The ten commandments which are from the beginning tell you to keep the fourth commandment. Think of it this way: had adam and eve never sinned, you would have been right now in the garden of Eden keeping the Sabbath. Jesus said the sabbath was made for MAN. You are a man the sabbath was made for you too.
Again I ask, "who's law"? BEFORE the law, sin was in the world, correct? And this law (Moses) was ADDED because of transgressions....To what???
Now I ask you, when God made man, was He thinking "thou shalt not" or was man made in the first covenant, that being LOVE?
Beasts are lawless, and for them is who is made "thou shalt not". A man who loves his neighbor as himself does not have to be told "thou shalt not", for it is written in his heart.
Now you want to know the beast system. Look around you. We have enough and yet we would rather go to war then to severe a dead and crumbling past filled with traditions WE ALL WERE BORN INTO. No one asked to be here, so how can you blame anyone? It is only love that will kill this desire in men to rule and to destroy, to pillage and to waste. We are dying, and I am tired of seeing my people loosing!
I say bluntly that this is the kingdom of heaven! Please, just stop letting people violently take it from us!
Now I ask you, when God made man, was He thinking "thou shalt not" or was man made in the first covenant, that being LOVE?
Beasts are lawless, and for them is who is made "thou shalt not". A man who loves his neighbor as himself does not have to be told "thou shalt not", for it is written in his heart.
Now you want to know the beast system. Look around you. We have enough and yet we would rather go to war then to severe a dead and crumbling past filled with traditions WE ALL WERE BORN INTO. No one asked to be here, so how can you blame anyone? It is only love that will kill this desire in men to rule and to destroy, to pillage and to waste. We are dying, and I am tired of seeing my people loosing!
I say bluntly that this is the kingdom of heaven! Please, just stop letting people violently take it from us!
A
I am new here but I am not new to adventist forums. Been on them ever since there was one since 1997. I do not come here to debate except that i would like to share some things that I have put together in the last 25 years in harmony with what christforme and others have been posting here. Excellent post by the way. Spent much of yesterday afternoon browsing. This thread caught my attention. It reminds me of topix.com in the sda forums.
In the study of the order of last day events, it soon becomes apparent that there is one event that emerges as a key happening in the sequence. It is quickly established as a peg in a sure place and having it in place it is possible to draw up the lines of sequence out from it in either directions. That event is the setting up of the image of the beast. Its setting up is foretold in Revelation 13:11-18.
The first beast referred to in Revelation 13, as set forth in the first ten verses of the chapter, is none other than the papal power that ruled supreme over the world for the 1260 years from 538-1798 A.D. The Lamb-like beast that rises to power after the temporary demise of the first beast is none other than the power of Apostate Protestantism especially as cradled in the United Sates of America.
In this chapter (Rev.13) we are expressly told that this power as symbolized by the lamblike beast will set up an IMAGE of the first beast that had the wound by the sword and did live. What is an image? It is a likeness in the form of a reproduction of that which was before, the same thing all over again.
And there can be no mistake as to what this reproduction is. There can be no mistake on two counts. In the first case the actual image itself is described to us here in Rev. 13, and in the second case we have but to go back and study the character of the first beast to see what the image is to be. We find that they are identical.
"By this first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The image to the beast represents another religious body with similar powers. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the Papacy. When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, THEN will Protestant America have formed an IMAGE of the Roman hierarchy. Then the TRUE CHURCH will be assailed by persecution, as were God's ancient people." Story of Redemption, pp.381,382.
We find that we have a religious power that has enlisted the power of the state as her servant and uses that power to enforce her decrees even to the end, to the death penalty where men refuse to yield to her demands. Thus it was with the Papacy and thus we are plainly told it will be with the image. Rev.13:15-18. This is a picture of what is coming to that which is now the free world and, first of all, in that nation which has all along steadfastly held to the right of every man to the utmost freedom to choose as to how and where he will worship or as to whether he will worship at all.
There are those that cannot believe that this could ever be possible. But the word of God has declared that it will be and that is all that we have to believe. The more one studies the prophecies, then the more we see that things that men could never believe were possible but were foretold in the Word, did happen just as they were foretold to happen.
Of course there are factors that lead up to this. There are forces that gradually bring it about so that it does not exactly happen over night. These have also been clearly outlined in the prophetic word and it is important that we study them. This we will do in the proper order once we have established the actual fact of the setting up of the image of the beast in the United States of America and what is involved in that action.
In the study of the order of last day events, it soon becomes apparent that there is one event that emerges as a key happening in the sequence. It is quickly established as a peg in a sure place and having it in place it is possible to draw up the lines of sequence out from it in either directions. That event is the setting up of the image of the beast. Its setting up is foretold in Revelation 13:11-18.
The first beast referred to in Revelation 13, as set forth in the first ten verses of the chapter, is none other than the papal power that ruled supreme over the world for the 1260 years from 538-1798 A.D. The Lamb-like beast that rises to power after the temporary demise of the first beast is none other than the power of Apostate Protestantism especially as cradled in the United Sates of America.
In this chapter (Rev.13) we are expressly told that this power as symbolized by the lamblike beast will set up an IMAGE of the first beast that had the wound by the sword and did live. What is an image? It is a likeness in the form of a reproduction of that which was before, the same thing all over again.
And there can be no mistake as to what this reproduction is. There can be no mistake on two counts. In the first case the actual image itself is described to us here in Rev. 13, and in the second case we have but to go back and study the character of the first beast to see what the image is to be. We find that they are identical.
"By this first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The image to the beast represents another religious body with similar powers. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the Papacy. When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, THEN will Protestant America have formed an IMAGE of the Roman hierarchy. Then the TRUE CHURCH will be assailed by persecution, as were God's ancient people." Story of Redemption, pp.381,382.
We find that we have a religious power that has enlisted the power of the state as her servant and uses that power to enforce her decrees even to the end, to the death penalty where men refuse to yield to her demands. Thus it was with the Papacy and thus we are plainly told it will be with the image. Rev.13:15-18. This is a picture of what is coming to that which is now the free world and, first of all, in that nation which has all along steadfastly held to the right of every man to the utmost freedom to choose as to how and where he will worship or as to whether he will worship at all.
There are those that cannot believe that this could ever be possible. But the word of God has declared that it will be and that is all that we have to believe. The more one studies the prophecies, then the more we see that things that men could never believe were possible but were foretold in the Word, did happen just as they were foretold to happen.
Of course there are factors that lead up to this. There are forces that gradually bring it about so that it does not exactly happen over night. These have also been clearly outlined in the prophetic word and it is important that we study them. This we will do in the proper order once we have established the actual fact of the setting up of the image of the beast in the United States of America and what is involved in that action.
A
Part 2
At what point of time will the image be set up? What act upon the part of men will establish it? What is involved in this? These are the questions that are now to be answered. And the answers are there. There is no mystery about it. Let us turn to the prophetic word for the answers:
"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result... The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas." The Great Controversy, p.445.
"Romanists declare that 'the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves to the authority of the (catholic) church.'" Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestants of Today, p.213.
"The enforcement of Sunday-keeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy, of the beast of Rev.13:1-10. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath, are thereby giving homage to the power by which it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image." The Great Controversy, pp.448-449.
Thus is answered the question, At what point of time will the image of the beast be set up? It will be set up at that point of time when the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such point of doctrine as they hold in common, shall obtain the power of the civil authorities to enforce as law the laws and injunctions of the church itself especially in regard to the enforcement of the Sunday legislation. That time is still future but it is not too much distant anymore.
The unity proposed here is not a platform of truth but as an expediency to gain a substitute power for the power of God. Having lost the power of God in the rejection of the great truths of the Advent message, the only remaining power that the churches can turn to is the arm of the state. But they cannot gain this power until they can go as a united front to take it up. Therefore they must first unify among themselves so that they will have the power to go to the state and demand and obtain that power to enforce their wishes. The reasons for this and the factors involved will be more fully developed as we proceed into this series of studies.
At what point of time will the image be set up? What act upon the part of men will establish it? What is involved in this? These are the questions that are now to be answered. And the answers are there. There is no mystery about it. Let us turn to the prophetic word for the answers:
"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result... The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas." The Great Controversy, p.445.
"Romanists declare that 'the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves to the authority of the (catholic) church.'" Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestants of Today, p.213.
"The enforcement of Sunday-keeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy, of the beast of Rev.13:1-10. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath, are thereby giving homage to the power by which it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image." The Great Controversy, pp.448-449.
Thus is answered the question, At what point of time will the image of the beast be set up? It will be set up at that point of time when the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such point of doctrine as they hold in common, shall obtain the power of the civil authorities to enforce as law the laws and injunctions of the church itself especially in regard to the enforcement of the Sunday legislation. That time is still future but it is not too much distant anymore.
The unity proposed here is not a platform of truth but as an expediency to gain a substitute power for the power of God. Having lost the power of God in the rejection of the great truths of the Advent message, the only remaining power that the churches can turn to is the arm of the state. But they cannot gain this power until they can go as a united front to take it up. Therefore they must first unify among themselves so that they will have the power to go to the state and demand and obtain that power to enforce their wishes. The reasons for this and the factors involved will be more fully developed as we proceed into this series of studies.
R
you have interpreted the beasts incorrectly...
the first beast combines a lion and a bear and a leopard...in daniel's corresponding vision it is easy to see that the lion represents the babylon empire...the bear represents the persian empire...and the leopard represents the greek or hellenistic empire...all the empires that had existed up until daniel's time...
by combining all of daniel's imperial symbols into one...the first beast represents empire in general...an imperial state specifically based on the roman model...nearly all modern political and legal systems are now based on roman precedent by the way...
the second beast has two small horns like a lamb...that is it looks christlike...imitating a church...but it speaks like a dragon...that is it speaks with the voice of satan...so it is really a false church...
the apostate church represented by the second beast causes many people to worship the first beast...and the second beast also wields all of the authority of the first beast...so this shows a unity of church and state...specifically apostate church and imperial state...
the first beast combines a lion and a bear and a leopard...in daniel's corresponding vision it is easy to see that the lion represents the babylon empire...the bear represents the persian empire...and the leopard represents the greek or hellenistic empire...all the empires that had existed up until daniel's time...
by combining all of daniel's imperial symbols into one...the first beast represents empire in general...an imperial state specifically based on the roman model...nearly all modern political and legal systems are now based on roman precedent by the way...
the second beast has two small horns like a lamb...that is it looks christlike...imitating a church...but it speaks like a dragon...that is it speaks with the voice of satan...so it is really a false church...
the apostate church represented by the second beast causes many people to worship the first beast...and the second beast also wields all of the authority of the first beast...so this shows a unity of church and state...specifically apostate church and imperial state...
R
in case anyone was wondering...here is a little bit more detail regarding the sources you have been citing in various posts on this forum...
'story of redemption'...written by ellen white...
'the great controversy'...written by ellen white...
'testimonies'...written by ellen white...
but at least you are admitting that you adventists get your views from ellen white...too many adventists here have denied that fact...
'story of redemption'...written by ellen white...
'the great controversy'...written by ellen white...
'testimonies'...written by ellen white...
but at least you are admitting that you adventists get your views from ellen white...too many adventists here have denied that fact...
A
Seventh-day Adventism is a reflection of its false prophetess, Ellen G. White who claimed to have "visions" after a rock met with her head. It is inseparably united to her writings, which are considered to be an authoritative source of truth for the SDA church. The subsequent twisting of scripture to align with the false prophetess is what is purveyed by SDA'rs and I've observed usually deceitfully.
False prophetess + twisting scripture to align with the false prophetess + deceitful presentation = SDA apologetics.
False prophetess + twisting scripture to align with the false prophetess + deceitful presentation = SDA apologetics.
D
Here is a website that details where this ridicules lie of "Sunday laws are the Mark of the Beast" come from. That's right, Ellen G. White, the "prophetess" with brain damage and a 3rd grade education.
The nonsense starts here: Seventh-day Adventist's teach that Sunday worshippers ARE THE Mark Of The Beast.
The nonsense starts here: Seventh-day Adventist's teach that Sunday worshippers ARE THE Mark Of The Beast.
J
honestly.. the mark of the beast is when someone accepts something that is against god or what god requires us to do that's what i think... and well we got alot of " religious spirits " going around with forms of godliness i call that the mark of the beast and bringing in others in this system to follow this religious spirit... that is the mark of the beast
What Bible are you reading from? Try the King James, it's pretty good. The vanity...
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
A
Part 3 (Last Day Events)
So there we have before us fact number one. The setting up of the enforcement of the Sunday law as the will of the leading and by then united churches on a national scale in the United States of America first, is the setting up of the image of the beast. But what takes place in the United States first is followed by every other country on the face of the globe. This is evident from the fact that the message of warning against the beast and his image as contained in Revelation 14:6-12 is a warning that is sent to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people."
"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honour the false sabbath, the people of every country of the globe will be led to follow her example."
"Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world." Testimonies, Vol.6, pp.18,395.
It is no wonder that this is a significant event and one that is fraught with fearful consequences. It is the great point of no return. Once that step is taken then the powers of this earth will have gone too far to return and their destruction is certified. But there is more yet to be learned about this event, for by it the device of Satan will be perfected.
For a long time the devil has been working to bring the whole world under his complete control and to unite it into one vast army of confederated opposition against the people and the truth of God.
Now at last his device is perfected and he is ready for the last great battle of the ages. Note how clearly this fact of the perfecting of his device is stated in the following quotation:
"When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, THE DEVICE OF SATAN WILL BE PERFECTED." E.G. White, Review & Herald, April 15, 1890.
Inasmuch as the whole object of the devil from the very beginning has been to make of none effect the law of God,(Great Controversy,582) then it follows that if the device of Satan has been perfected at this time, then The law of God is also made void.
And so it proves to be as these statements show.
"A time is coming when the law of God is, in a SPECIAL SENSE, to be MADE VOID IN OUR LAND. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God's people will be brought into great peril. When our nation in its legislative assemblies, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of man in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the Seventh day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in the land; and NATIONAL APOSTASY will be followed by NATIONAL RUIN." Review and Herald, Dec.18,1888.
Very naturally this will bring a great test for the people of God.
"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes: for it is to be the great test for the people of God by which their eternal destiny will be decided... (Rev.13:11-17 quoted here)... This is the GREAT TEST that the people of God must have BEFORE they are sealed (second and final seal). All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of divine origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p. 976.
Finally we will notice that this event marks the signal to flee from the cities.
"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the SIGNAL for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the PAPAL SABBATH will be a WARNING to us. It will then be TIME to LEAVE the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains." 5 Testimonies, 464,465.
And now without advancing the evidences, we will state here that this is also the time for the complete spiritual fall of Babylon the Great and the beginning of the loud cry to the world.
So there we have before us fact number one. The setting up of the enforcement of the Sunday law as the will of the leading and by then united churches on a national scale in the United States of America first, is the setting up of the image of the beast. But what takes place in the United States first is followed by every other country on the face of the globe. This is evident from the fact that the message of warning against the beast and his image as contained in Revelation 14:6-12 is a warning that is sent to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people."
"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honour the false sabbath, the people of every country of the globe will be led to follow her example."
"Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world." Testimonies, Vol.6, pp.18,395.
It is no wonder that this is a significant event and one that is fraught with fearful consequences. It is the great point of no return. Once that step is taken then the powers of this earth will have gone too far to return and their destruction is certified. But there is more yet to be learned about this event, for by it the device of Satan will be perfected.
For a long time the devil has been working to bring the whole world under his complete control and to unite it into one vast army of confederated opposition against the people and the truth of God.
Now at last his device is perfected and he is ready for the last great battle of the ages. Note how clearly this fact of the perfecting of his device is stated in the following quotation:
"When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, THE DEVICE OF SATAN WILL BE PERFECTED." E.G. White, Review & Herald, April 15, 1890.
Inasmuch as the whole object of the devil from the very beginning has been to make of none effect the law of God,(Great Controversy,582) then it follows that if the device of Satan has been perfected at this time, then The law of God is also made void.
And so it proves to be as these statements show.
"A time is coming when the law of God is, in a SPECIAL SENSE, to be MADE VOID IN OUR LAND. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God's people will be brought into great peril. When our nation in its legislative assemblies, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of man in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the Seventh day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in the land; and NATIONAL APOSTASY will be followed by NATIONAL RUIN." Review and Herald, Dec.18,1888.
Very naturally this will bring a great test for the people of God.
"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes: for it is to be the great test for the people of God by which their eternal destiny will be decided... (Rev.13:11-17 quoted here)... This is the GREAT TEST that the people of God must have BEFORE they are sealed (second and final seal). All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of divine origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p. 976.
Finally we will notice that this event marks the signal to flee from the cities.
"As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the SIGNAL for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the PAPAL SABBATH will be a WARNING to us. It will then be TIME to LEAVE the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains." 5 Testimonies, 464,465.
And now without advancing the evidences, we will state here that this is also the time for the complete spiritual fall of Babylon the Great and the beginning of the loud cry to the world.
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