What is the Beast of Revelation and its Mark?

The prophet Daniel gave us a 2300-year prophecyHis name on our foreheads, again being symbolic not
that spanned up to the year 1844, depicting when theliteral Revelation 22:4-5 "And they shall see his face;
end-times of earth's history would begin.and his name shall be in their foreheads..."
There are several prophecies in the book ofThe Beasts (prophetically a political or religious ruling
Revelation that tell us about the very last days and thepower) have been identified as political-religious
signs to look for and with these comes a severegovernments that follow apostate (non-Biblical)
warning of the consequences of taking the Mark ofdoctrines and inflict persecution on the true followers
the Beast Revelation 14:10-11 "The same shall drink ofof God, who obey His commandments.
the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured outThe First Beast is a historical figure and was identified
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and heby many of our early church founders as the Roman
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in theCatholic Church, as she met all of the prophetic criteria
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence ofgiven in the books of Daniel and Revelation. Martin
the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendethLuther aptly conveyed the sentiments of the
up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day norProtestant reformers when he said "We here are of
night, who worship the beast and his image, andthe conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true
whosoever receiveth the mark of his name".and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the
It also tells us that those who take the Mark werePope no other obedience than that to Antichrist." (Aug.
deceived Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken,18, 1520) Taken from The Prophetic Faith of Our
and with him the false prophet that wrought miraclesFathers, Vol. 2., pg. 121 by Froom.
before him, with which he deceived them that hadThe Second Beast, which is yet to emerge has been
received the mark of the beast...".acknowledged by many leading Bible scholars as being
This shows clearly that the Mark of the Beast will nota merging of State and Religion in America at some
be something obvious. Those who take the Mark ofstage in the future.
the Beast on their hand (depicting their actions) or onWhat was the Mark of the First Beast? The Catholic
their forehead (depicting their decisions) will do itChurch in much of its literature claims that changing the
unknowingly, because they have not studied theSabbath to Sunday is the "Mark of her authority".
prophecies and have not known what to look out for.The Seal of God, His Name (Lord), Title (Creator) and
Many people don't realize also that there are twoRealm (Heaven and Earth) are referenced within His
marks, the mark of the beast and the mark or seal ofFourth Commandment to keep His Seventh Day
God, and that both of these marks revolve aroundSabbath and as we are clearly shown those who are
worship. Revelation shows that those who love andtrue to God will be keeping ALL of His
worship God, honouring Him in the way He hascommandments.
requested will be sealed with His Mark by the angels.Revelation also speaks of the First Beast as a Mother,
The Bible shows that the difference between the twomeaning that she has daughter churches and in effect
groups of people is that the followers of God are thethe Protestant churches who follow the apostate
ones who keep all of His Ten Commandmentsteaching of observing Sunday as the day of worship
Revelation 14:11-12 "And the smoke of their tormentinstead of the "Friday evening to Saturday evening"
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have noSabbath of the Bible, are making themselves the
rest day nor night, who worship the beast and hisdaughters of the 'Harlot Woman riding the Beast' of
image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of hisRevelation unawares.
name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are theyThis does in no way mean that God does not have
that keep the commandments of God, and the faith ofHis faithful people in many denominations today. To the
Jesus".contrary, there are many true and faithful believers
This proves then that the Mark of the Beast cannotwho are simply ignorant to the fact that they are
be a microchip or a tattoo of 666 as some havebreaking one of God's sacred commandments by not
suggested. The Mark of the Beast, in line with the restupholding His true Sabbath day. But Revelation tells us
of the book of Revelation is symbolic.that God will call these people out of the apostate
The mark on our forehead reflects our consciouschurches and into His final remnant church Revelation
decisions to either follow God, or to disobey Him.18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,
When it speaks about Christians living forever in theCome out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers
New Heaven and New Earth it says that we will haveof her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues".