The mark of the beast?

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Identify the beast correctly you say?

Which beast, sea beast or land beast?

What is the image of the beast because no one has described what that image is?
The land beast makes an image to the sea beast

The image is that land beast imploys the characteristic of the sea beast. And uplifts the teachings of the sea beast.

America was a protestant nation that was founded on principles that would have nothing to do with catholic teachings.

But the gap has dissolved and now the American nation is upholding many catholic teachings. Think about the political side of America, it is made up of 90% catholic people.

The catholic church (sea beast) will use USA (the land beast) to enforce her teachings. The union of church and state.
But it will be RCC and state.
 
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Sola scriptura:
The Bible interprets itself,

Isa 28:10, 13 KJV - 10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: ... 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

In prophecy a woman represents a church:
Jer 6:2 KJV - 2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate [woman].
There are two women in Revelation:
The church of Christ -- Rev 19:7-8 KJV - 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The harlot -- Rev 17:3-6 KJV - 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

A beast represents a political power. Here are some prophetic examples:
Dan 7:3-7 KJV - 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.

Water represents masses of people, sort of like Europe:
Rev 17:1 KJV - 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

You made a generalization.

In prophecy a woman represents a church.

That is incorrect.

A woman can represent covenants; Hagar and Sarah (Galatians 4).

Jerusalem is referred to as a female city a significant number of times in the Bible, particularly in
the prophetic books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah, where the city is personified as a woman,
"Daughter Zion," or an unfaithful wife.

Your not going to tell me that in the O.T prophets are not calling Jerusalem a woman.

The Harlot is the great city.

Revelation 17:18
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

Revelation 18:18
And were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.

Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'

How many verses do you need to accept the Harlot is the great city?
 
It says upon the beast, not and the beast

Sounds like a textual variant.

  • Textual Criticism:
    This field of study compares ancient manuscripts to determine the original wording of a biblical text.
  • Manuscript Evidence:
    When comparing different Greek manuscripts of Revelation 17:16, textual critics have noted variations in the text.
  • Primary Variant:
    One variant reads that the "ten horns and the beast shall hate the harlot" and consume her. This reading is found in earlier and more reliable manuscripts.
  • Alternative Variant:
    Another reading states that the "ten horns" and the "beast" themselves "shall hate the harlot". This variation has less support from ancient manuscripts and is considered a later addition.
  • Scholarly Consensus:
    Most modern critical editions of the New Testament, based on thorough textual analysis, prefer the first reading.
 
Hello TMS.

It is blatantly obvious that you do not read the scripture.

This is what you said.
The land beast makes an image to the sea beast

Revelation 13:14
..telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast...

People (those that dwell on the earth) are told to make the image to the Beast.

Your saying the exact opposite of what is written.

How do you do that?

Then you are free wheeling below.

But the gap has dissolved and now the American nation is upholding many catholic teachings. Think about the political side of America, it is made up of 90% catholic people.

The catholic church (sea beast) will use USA (the land beast) to enforce her teachings. The union of church and state.
But it will be RCC and state.


Probably the worst eschatology I have seen.

Catholics are decreasing in numbers and have been for fifty years.

The Catholic Church is declining in the U.S., though the pace may be slowing. Self-identification as Catholic
has dropped from 24% in 2007 to 19% in 2025. This is also reflected in a significant decrease in weekly
Mass attendance, from 34% in 1973 to 11% in 2022.

Protestants continue to outnumber Catholics in the U.S., though the overall number of Christians is declining.
As of early 2025, about 40% of Americans identify as Protestant, while 19% identify as Catholic,
making Protestantism the largest single religious group in the country.
 
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Not so, in prophecy a woman represents a church.

Jerusalem is referred to as a female city a significant number of times in the Bible, particularly in
the prophetic books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah, where the city is personified as a woman,
"Daughter Zion," or an unfaithful wife.

So you ignore the references to Jerusalem as a woman in O.T. prophecy?
 
I'm an Adventist, carrying on the Protestant Reformation, as did the classical Reformers. Proclaiming with a "Loud voice" "Come out of her, my people." per Revelation 14:7-12

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. ( per Commandments # 1- # 4 -The Sabbath )

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, ( the Roman Vatican Church ) because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ( Her False Doctrines )

9 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 MOTB = Sunday observance legislation / civil law) USA legislation, contrary to God's Commandments.)

10 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:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith OF Jesus. ( We the remnant Church )

... AND ... I'm back on thread topic ~~> Mark Of The Beast
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Hi Follower777, I admire your boldness and strength to stand for what you believe.
You might be interested in this video about the Mark of the Beast (it's only 6 minutes long):
 
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The Scripture says the mark can be his name or the number of his name.

Revelation 13:17
And he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark,
either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

I think that verse is straight forward enough.

What then is the beast's name?

What is the number of his name?
 
That's ridiculous. The Vatican is not the Roman empire. You're living in a bygone era

Jesus said;
" Matt 24:15 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand."


Reading the book of Daniel, each metal in Daniel’s metal man statue stands for a successive world empire (gold = Babylon, silver = Medo‑Persia, bronze = Greece, iron = pagan Rome). The addition of clay in the feet, signals a qualitative change, a mixture of "iron & miry clay" .. to which the "mountain cut without hands" the Kingdom of God, comes and smashes the Metal Man, at the feet, at the "end of day", the Coming of our Lord & King Jesus. The mingling of church‑craft and state‑craft is represented by the iron and the clay. As shown by history, with the transference of power from the Roman Empire to the Papal See in AD 538.

Historical observation – After the fall of pagan Rome, the Roman Catholic Church (the papacy) assumed the political mantle of the former empire, exercising temporal authority (e.g., the Holy Roman Empire, the Inquisition, the Crusades). This “mixing” of religion with state power matches the imagery of iron (strength, empire) plus miry clay (a wet, pliable, easily broken substance). A false religious system that replaces Christ’s mediatorial work and partners with secular power.

“The papacy now presents a fair front… The iron and the miry clay symbolize the papacy’s alliance with secular governments, a mixture that will ultimately be broken.” the papal‑state alliance is the “abomination of desolation.” EGW - The Great Controversy, p. 234 (1888 ed.)
 
Jerusalem is referred to as a female city a significant number of times in the Bible, particularly in
the prophetic books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah, where the city is personified as a woman,
"Daughter Zion," or an unfaithful wife.

So you ignore the references to Jerusalem as a woman in O.T. prophecy?

When a thing is symbolized as a woman, this only denotes its capacity to generate children, i.e. Wisdom is personified as a woman.
 
In prophecy a woman represents a church.
That is incorrect.
Your not going to tell me that in the O.T prophets are not calling Jerusalem a woman.

The Harlot is the great city.

Revelation 17:18
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

Revelation 18:18
And were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.

Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'

How many verses do you need to accept the Harlot is the great city?
Outline: Jerusalem — City & Spiritual “Church” (King James Bible)

I. Jerusalem the Physical City
A. Core Biblical References
1. Psalm 122:1‑2 – Joy of going to the house of the Lord.
2. 2 Chronicles 6:6 – Temple as focal point of worship.
3. Isaiah 2:3 – Future gathering of nations to the “mountain of the Lord.”
4. Zechariah 14:4 – Geographic description of Jerusalem in end‑times.

B. Themes
1. Centrality of the temple.
2. Geographic and prophetic significance.

II. Jerusalem as the Spiritual “Church” (Typology)
A. Old‑Testament Typology
1. Psalm 48:2 – City as “joy of the whole earth.”
2. Isaiah 33:20 – Zion as the appointed dwelling of God.
3. Jeremiah 31:6 – Promise of a multiplied, faithful people.
4. Ezekiel 40‑48 – Vision of a restored city/temple foreshadowing the new covenant community.

B. New‑Testament Fulfillment
1. Hebrews 12:22‑24 – “Heavenly Jerusalem” = assembly of the firstborn (the church).
2. Galatians 4:26 – Contrast between earthly Jerusalem and the free, heavenly Jerusalem.
3. Ephesians 2:19‑22 – Believers as a “holy temple” built on apostolic foundation.
4. Revelation 21:2‑3 – “New Jerusalem” as the consummate, eternal church.
5. 1 Peter 2:4‑5 – Believers as “living stones” forming a spiritual house/priesthood.

III. Connecting the Two Images
  1. Temple → Christ → Church
  2. Walls → Unity
  3. Pilgrimage → Heavenly Journey
    • Psalm 122 (pilgrims to Jerusalem) ↔ Hebrews 12:22 (pilgrims to heavenly Jerusalem).
  4. Destruction & Restoration → Trials & Hope
    • Prophetic judgments on Jerusalem (e.g., Jeremiah 26:13) → Church persecution.
    • Promised restoration (Isaiah 2:3; Zechariah 14) → Final glorified state (Revelation 21).
IV. Summary
  • Jerusalem as a city: Historical capital, temple site, prophetic focal point.
  • Jerusalem as a church: Typological representation of God’s people—both Israel and the New‑Testament body of believers—culminating in the “heavenly Jerusalem.”
  • Scripture weaves a single thread: the historic city prefigures and fulfills the spiritual reality of the church, the people of God gathered around Christ, the true “Jerusalem” beyond geography.
Sabbath Blessings Folks
 
In prophecy a woman represents a church.

That is incorrect.
Outline: How Prophetic “Woman” Imagery Represents the Church
(Based on the King James Version)

I. Biblical Foundations – The KJV
  1. Revelation 12:1‑6 – The Woman Clothed with the Sun
    • “A great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, … and her child was caught up unto God …”
    • Interpretation: The woman is later identified as the people of God (Rev 12:17). The child is the Messiah; the woman’s persecution by the dragon mirrors the church’s suffering under Satan.
  2. Revelation 2‑3 – Letters to the Seven Churches
    • Each epistle addresses “the angel of the church,” yet the churches are repeatedly spoken of in feminine terms (e.g., Rev 2:20 “I have called thee Jezebel, that I am not my wife”).
    • Interpretation: The collective body of believers is portrayed as a woman‑bride, the Bride of Christ (cf. Rev 21:9; 22:17).
  3. Ephesians 5:25‑27 – Christ’s Love for the Church
    • “Christ loved the church, … that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, without spot, holy and undefiled.”
    • Interpretation: The church is explicitly called a wife, confirming the New‑Testament continuation of the prophetic woman‑symbol.
  4. 2 Corinthians 11:2 – The Pure Virgin
    • “I have betrothed you … that you may be presented as a pure virgin to Christ.”
    • Interpretation: Believers are likened to a pure virgin, reinforcing the bridal metaphor.
  5. Revelation 21:9‑10 – The Bride, the Wife of the Lamb
    • “Come, see the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
    • Interpretation: The “New Jerusalem” is the ultimate fulfillment of the prophetic woman as the church.
The Harlot is a city but the Sea Beast hates the Harlot.
So the Sea Beast and the Harlot are different from one another.
Key points:
  1. Sea Beast = World‑wide political‑military empire (historically the papacy, ultimately a future global government).
  2. It grants authority to the Babylonian religious system (the “great harlot”).
  3. Its defeat at Christ’s return results in the instant destruction of the harlot and the false system.

  1. Origin & Symbolism
    • Sea → chaotic nations, hostile powers (Rev 13:1).
    • Ten horns, seven heads → ten kingdoms, seven major powers (Rev 13:1).
  2. Nature of the Beast
    • Political‑military empire (KJV description).
    • World‑wide authority to persecute saints (Rev 13:4‑7).
    • “World‑wide political‑military power that gives authority to the false church.” ( The False Prophet )
  3. Function in Prophetic Narrative
    • Provides the throne for the harlot (Rev 17:3‑4).
    • Supports the false prophet (Rev 13:11‑12).
    • “Engine that drives Babylon’s domination over the kings of the earth.”
  4. Judgment
    • Defeated by Christ at the battle of the great white horse (Rev 19:19‑20).
    • “When the beast is cast into the lake of fire, the harlot’s empire collapses in an hour.”
The Sea Beast
  1. Biblical Symbolism of the Sea
    • Sea = aggregate of nations (Dan 7:2‑3; Rev 13:1).
  2. Attributes of the Sea Beast (Rev 13:1‑7)
    • Ten horns → ten human rulers.
    • Seven heads → seven dominant powers.
    • Blasphemous names → human titles claiming divine authority.
    • Authority to wage war → only a political power can do this.
    • Imposition of a universal mark → requires a global economic system.
  3. Parallel with Daniel’s Sea Beast (Dan 7)
    • Same imagery (horns, heads) applied to known human empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome).
    • Identifies the beast as a world‑wide political‑military empire that partners with the false religious system (the harlot).
  4. Conclusion
    • The sea beast is not a mythic monster but a political power that arises from the populated mass of nations (the “sea”), gathers ten subordinate kingdoms, and exercises worldwide authority—exactly the profile of a human empire.
Therefore, Scripture itself—through the symbolism of the sea, the description of horns and heads, the granting of authority to wage war, and the parallel with Daniel’s historically‑identified beasts—clearly indicates that the “sea beast” is a human political power emerging from a densely populated region of the world.

"And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev 17: 5

"Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged. Jer 51:7

“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:” Rev 17:4 ( What church do we see in the world today, that resembles this description ? )

Below is the Whore of Babylon wearing the papal tiara from a woodcut in Luther's Bible; holding the golden cup, the wine of her abominations.
1759604687228.png
 
Hi Follower777, I admire your boldness and strength to stand for what you believe.
You might be interested in this video about the Mark of the Beast (it's only 6 minutes long):
Thank You, Sister :-) Walter Veith has been my Professor, for 30 years now. Very timely video, from Mrs Veith. I will be referring people to this presentation. Thank You for the link ^/^
 
When a thing is symbolized as a woman, this only denotes its capacity to generate children, i.e. Wisdom is personified as a woman.
Your literalizing "spiritual discernment" of scripture.
Scripture = The Word = Jesus .. Jesus IS the Spirit of Prophecy,


Rev 19:10 "... I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

1 Cor 2:
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

"things of the Spirit are spiritually understood" is central to 1 Corinthians 2, which states that the natural person, who lacks the Holy Spirit, does not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, as they are spiritually discerned. This means that spiritual truths, such as the knowledge of God's will, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and the deeper revelations of Scripture, are not accessible through human reason alone but require the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
 
Therefore, Scripture itself—through the symbolism of the sea, the description of horns and heads, the granting of authority to wage war, and the parallel with Daniel’s historically‑identified beasts—clearly indicates that the “sea beast” is a human political power emerging from a densely populated region of the world.

Well put.
The Roman kingdom was in the densely populated area of Europe. But a woman rides this beast and becomes a religious and political power. The Roman Catholic Church had complet control because of its connection with the civil powers.

The image to the best is when a religious power uses the civil power to enforce religious laws.

Protestant America is following the example of the dark ages and starting to unite Church and state.

The lamb like beast is America because it started with lamb like principles. The constitution and laws that gave freedom to the people were a blessing. America became great but is now starting to make an image to the first beast by following what they did in the past.

Enforcement of religious laws by political powers.

Watch this space.