THE MARK OF THE BEAST
By Donald Adkins
THE SUN WORSHIPPERS
We have identified the beast. The beast is Rome where Satan’s seat has been transferred. But what of the mark of the beast? Does the Roman Empire (the fourth beast) have a distinguishing mark? She does and this I will endeavor to prove beyond all reasonable doubt!
We have already seen how Rome’s religion came from Babylon through Pergamos. But just what was that religion? All books of history pretty much reveal the same story. Just before the appearing of the Messiah YAHshua, and shortly after, the worship of the sun became very popular. In fact most of the known pagan deities of the nations had all been assimilated with the sun deity. When the true Messianic worship had come to Rome, the greatest rival it found was sun worship.
The saddest part of all is that in Rome the true worship was infiltrated by large numbers of unconverted sun worshippers. This resulted in the assemblies adopting pagan practices and the corrupting of the Scriptural Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3-4). What is coming forth in this study may shock you, but you must learn the truth. Of the fourth beast, Rome, it is written in the prophetic record that: "...The fourth beast is the fourth reign upon the earth, which is different from all other reigns, and it devours all the earth, tramples it down and crushes it. And the ten horns are ten sovereigns from this reign. They shall rise, and another shall arise after them, and it is different from the first ones, and it humbles three sovereigns, and it speaks words against the Most High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of the Most High, and it intends to change appointed times and law, and they are given into its hands for a time and times and half a time," Dan. 7:23-25.
PONTIFEX MAXIMUS
We know that the fourth beast is Rome and that it was different than all the other beasts before it (i.e. Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece). Rome had began as a republic but later on, under the Caesars, became an empire. Soon the Caesars became known as Pontifex Maximus (or the office of High Priest) and they were looked upon as the mediators between heaven and earth. They even went so far as to declare that they were gods! This led to the fourth beast making war against the saints and overcoming them!
As long as the Roman government persecuted the saints they couldn’t overcome their faith! The earlier followers of YAHshua the Messiah refused to have anything to do with the pagan customs and beliefs of pagan Rome. Much persecution resulted. Many a true follower of YAHshua was falsely accused, thrown into the arena to be mauled and eaten by lions, burned at the stake, tortured and martyred but still the true faith grew! Rome couldn’t stamp out the faith by persecution or death of those earlier saints! What an awesome army of saints YAHWEH had who love Him so much they would rather die for Him than sin against Him or denounce Him, HalleluYah!!! Oh that we too could hold up strong in faith when tested today with our minor problems and cares as those beautiful firstfruits saints of old!
"And the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, to fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And out of his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river after the woman, to cause her to be swept away by the river. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth," Rev. 12:14-16.
What was this symbolic flood of water like a river that Satan used to try and destroy the woman (i.e. true Assembly of YAHWEH)? What say the Scriptures about this flood? "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of YAHWEH will lift up a standard against him," Isa. 59:19b (KJV).
EMPEROR CONSTANTINE’S EDICT
Yes, Satan used his Pontifex Maximus Constantine, the head of the beast power, the enemy of YAHWEH'S people to enter the Assembly of YAHWEH peacefully and conquer the true faith. Thus was fulfilled Dan. 11:31-35 which says, "And strong ones shall arise from him and profane the set-apart place, the stronghold (Assembly of YAHWEH), and shall take away that which is continual (true worship), and set up the abomination that lays waste (false worship, i.e. Christianity), and by flatteries he (Constantine, the Pontifex Maximus of Satan’s seat and his successors) shall profane those who do wrong against the covenant (i.e. those who fall away from the faith (cf. Acts 20:29-30; I Tim. 4:1-3) and follow the Pontifex Maximus (cf. II Thes. 2:3-12), but the people who know their Elohim shall be strong, and shall act. And those of the people who have insight shall give understanding to many. And they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering, for days (true worshippers persecuted). And when they stumble, they shall be helped, a little help, but many will join them by flatteries (not truly sincere people). And some of those who have insight shall stumble, to refine them, and to cleanse them, and to make them white (for rulership in the kingdom of YAHWEH), until the time of the end, for it is still for an appointed time."
It was in the year 313 C.E. that Constantine, together with Licinius, held a conference at Milan where they began an alliance. It was also at that same place and date that they produced some documents called the Edict of Milan. This Edict of Milan was also known as the Edict that granted religious freedom within the territory of the Roman Empire.
It was also called the Edict of Toleration. This edict especially granted to "Christians and to all others, full liberty of following that religion which each may choose." This was the first edict of its kind in history.
SUNDAY LAW
It was in 321 C.E. that Constantine issued the first Sunday law. Contrary to what most Christians believe, Constantine did not issue this law to honor the Messiah as they believe. Constantine, through craft, faked conversion and throughout his life remained a sun-worshipper. Allow me to quote four sources that reveal the truth about Constantine.
1. "Constantine combined veneration for the ‘Unconquered Sun my companion’ with that of Christ." The Oxford Classical Dictionary, Second Edition, p. 233.
2. "The vague deism of Constantine strove to reconcile the opposition of helioatry (sun worship) and Christianity." Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism, p. 288, Frank Cumont.
3. "Constantine’s god was a fusion of the Unconquered Sun and Christ the Victorious." The Religions of the Roman Empire, p. 56, John Ferguson.
4. "The ... importance thus given to the worship of the material sun, which henceforth forms the centre of the adoration in all non-Christian religions ... All the post-Alexandrian legends of the gods were turned the same way, and Serapis, Mithras, Attis were all identified with the Sun, whom philosophers like Pliny and Macrobius declared to be the one supreme god concealed behind the innumerable lesser deities of the Graeco-Roman pantheon. Even the Christians could not long hold out against the flood, and the signs of compromise to which the Catholic Church participated in the matter can be seen in the coincidence of the Lord’s Day with Sunday and the Church’s adoption of the 25th day of December, the birthday of the Unconquered Sun-god, as the anniversary of the birth of Christ. It is certainly by no accident that emperors whose reigns immediately preceded the establishment of Christianity all turned towards the worship of the Sun-god who was looked upon as the peculiar divinity of the family to which Constantine belonged." Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity, pp. 118-119, Legge.
Now we can easily see that Constantine’s Sunday Law Edict of 321 C.E. was not made in honor of YAHshua the Messiah at all but in truth, in honor of the "Unconquered Sun my Companion." Let us look at this edict.
State Recognition of Sunday, 321
Constantine to Elpidius. All judges, city people and craftsmen shall rest on the venerable day of the Sun. But country men may without hindrance attend to agriculture, since it often happens that this is the most suitable day for sowing grain or planting vines, so that the opportunity afforded by divine providence may not be lost, for the right season is of short duration. 7 March 321. Code Justinianus, III. xiil. (Corp. Jur. Civ. ii. 127.)
It is interesting to note here whose day of worship Sunday really was. I quote, "The Mithraist also observed Sun-day and kept sacred the 25th of December as the birthday of the Sun." Textes et Monuments 1, p. 339 Franz Cumont.
"Mithras, identified with Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), thus became the giver of authority and victory to the imperial house." Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th Ed., Vol. 15, p. 620.
HIDDEN AGENDA
Do you remember Rev. 13:34 which says that Satan the dragon gave the beast (Romiith - Rome 666) his seat, power, and authority?! So who or what was Satan hiding behind so as to receive worship? You said it - Mithras - Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), the deity that Constantine worshipped! So what do you think the mark of the beast really is now? What is the mark that Rome forced on the world by Constantine’s edict? Sunday, the day Mithras was worshipped!
Sunday is the mark of the beast - Rome! Now remember Dan. 7:25, "And it (Rome) speaks words against the Most High, and it (Rome) wears out the set-apart ones (true worshippers) of the Most High, and it intends to change the appointed times (feasts of YAHWEH) and law (is the law of YAHWEH really abolished? NO!), and they (i.e. the feasts of YAHWEH, His laws and His set-apart ones) are given into its (Rome’s) hand for a time and times and half a time (3-1/2 years would be 1260 days. Could this prophecy be a day for a year? Yes, it could. [Num. 14:33; Ez. 4:6]. This prophecy could cover a period of 1,260 years of duration. More on this in a moment).
Notice what the fourth beast does:
1. It speaks against YAHWEH.
2. It wears out the set-apart ones.
3. It intends to change (a). feasts of YAHWEH, (b). YAHWEH'S law.
How effective has this beast power been? Very effective because for centuries people have died believing YAHWEH'S feasts were abolished and other days put in their place, i.e. Sunday for Sabbath, New Year’s Day for the true Scriptural New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter and Lent instead of the Scriptural Passover, Halloween, and last of all Christmas. (For more information on all these days instituted by the beast (Rome) in place of YAHWEH'S commanded feasts, please request Elder Healan’s booklet Colossians 2:16-17 or Holidays Vs. Holy Days. Write to YEA, P. O. Box 31, Atlanta, TX. 75551.)
"The emperors of Rome had been sun-worshippers and also regarded themselves to be sun-deities. Emperor Constantine was no different than his predecessors. The only difference was that he ended the persecution of Messianic Believers. He started to fraternize with them, and he sought their cooperation for his own political ends, i.e. to bring about peace, unity and strength in his empire. Thus, a sun-deity worshipping Roman emperor used his fraternizing and his political power to merge the messianic Belief with that of the predominant sun-worship. Constantine even assumed the chairmanship, the chair of the Pontifex Maximus, at time, such as at the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 C.E. (Come Out of Her My People, p. 110, C.J. Koester.
Notice how Constantine pushed the mark of the beast (changing the day of worship to Sunday) during the Council of Nicaea of C.E. 325. Notice what Constantine said at the council as the Pontifex Maximus, "At this meeting the question concerning...Easter was discussed...First of all, it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this...feast we should follow the practice of the Jews...Let us have nothing in common with the Jews...It has been determined by the common judgment of all, that the...feast of Easter should be kept on one and the same day...(Constantine said here that Easter should be kept on Sunday and he then forbad them to keep the true Passover Feast. Then he continued...)... "Forasmuch, then, as it is no longer possible to bear with your pernicious errors, we give warning by this present statute that none of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies: and forbid the holding of your superstitious and senseless meetings, not in public merely, but in any private house or place whatsoever...Take the far better course of entering the Catholic Church...From this day forward none of your unlawful assemblies may presume to appear in any public or private place. Let this edict be made public." (The History of Roman Catholicism)
By edict of Constantine himself, at the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E., the historical proof of the enforced observance of Sunday. Notice it says to assembly on any other day for a religious observance such as on the Scriptural 7th day Sabbath was against the law!
This was confirmed by the Council of Laodicea in 363 C.E. when it was declared, "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, resting rather on Sunday. But, if any be found to be Judaizing, let them be declared anathema (i.e. cursed and excommunicated) from Christ."
Can you not see that Daniel 7:25 has been fulfilled to the very letter?! The fourth beast (Romiith - 666) intended to change:
1. YAHWEH'S appointed times, i.e. the Sabbath Day and the feasts.
2. YAHWEH'S law. It claims the law of YAHWEH has been abolished, i.e. nailed to the cross.
Where is this mark of the beast (Rome) to be? Let us look at Rev. 13:16, "And he causes all, both small and great, and rich and poor, and free and slave, to be given a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads."
RIGHT HAND AND FOREHEAD
Two important symbols here will reveal that the mark is not a literal tatoo on your body as many people think. Those symbols are 1) the right hand and 2) the forehead.
Do the Scriptures reveal a meaning for the symbol of the right hand? Yes, for we read, "So when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be supports, came to know the favor that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, in order that we go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised," Gal. 2:9.
What did the right hand mean in the above verse? Didn’t it mean that they were given the right to labor in working to spread the glad tidings to the Gentiles? Yes, it did. The right hand symbolized their labor in the faith.
If you look at Ex. 29:19-21; Lev. 8:23-24; and Lev. 14:12-18 you will again see some symbolism. Notice it:
1. Tip of the right ear - consecrated to hear YAHWEH'S word.
2. Thumb of the right hand - Consecrated to labor in ministry/priesthood.
3. Big toe of the right foot - Consecrated to walk in the path of righteousness, i.e. the set-apart way.
Now let us look at the forehead as a symbol in Scripture, "And you shall make a plate of clean gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: Set-apartness to YAHWEH. And you shall put it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the forehead of Aharon, and Aharon shall bear the guilt of the set-apart gifts which the children of Yisrael set-apart in all their set-apart gifts. And it shall always be on his forehead for acceptance for them before YAHWEH," Ex. 28:36-38.
"...you have had a whore’s forehead, you refuse to be ashamed," Jer. 3:3.
"See, I make your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I shall make your forehead," Ez. 3:8.
It is evident from the above Scriptures that the forehead is a symbol of the mind, will or intellect. The seat of the emotions.
Let’s look at a few more Scriptures that will reveal the difference of the mark of the beast and its direct opposite!
"And these words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart, and you shall impress them upon your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up, and shall find them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes," Dt. 6:6-8 (cf. Dt. 11:18)
"And it shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, that the Torah of YAHWEH is to be in your mouth, for with a strong hand YAHWEH had brought you out of Mitsrayim, and you shall guard this law at its appointed time from year to year," Ex. 13:9-10.
Is it not evident by the above Scriptures that the difference between the mark of the beast that is in the forehead (mind) and hand (labor or actions) of the beast’s people is Sunday worship, false religious holidays, law done away, disobedience to YAHWEH, and that which is to be in the forehead (mind) and hand (labor or actions) of YAHWEH'S people is obedience to YAHWEH'S commandments, Sabbath, feasts, and laws? Notice that in Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 22:14 YAHWEH'S people obey His commandments and in Rev. 3:12; 7:3; 14:1; 22:3 it is YAHWEH'S name that is in His people’s foreheads?
What would be the opposite to YAHWEH
and His people’s obedience? Wouldn’t the opposite be that the beast’s
people obey his commandments and the beast’s name would be in their foreheads?
Look closer at Rev. 13:16-18; 14:9; 16:2; 17:5. You can’t afford to
misunderstand the issues involved in these last days. The real issue is
commandment keeping! Either YAHWEH'S or the
beast’s/Rome’s/Satan’s!
To Be Continued……………
Since 1/26/03