And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Rev 14:6 (KJV).
The message of Revelation 14:6 is an appeal to this rebellious planet to return from the brink of destruction. The message is sent to every corner of the earth- even to the remotest boundaries, appealing to every single person to return unto GOD our Creator.
This message will challenge and vanquished the whole host of hell; it will silence atheistic views and put the Evolution Theories to rest forever.
The Everlasting Gospel is the same message from age to age down through the corridors of time. The same gospel is preached unto all generations- the gospel in simple term is “Repentance to GOD and faith in CHRIST for our salvation-Mark 1:15.
The mystery of the everlasting gospel is fully revealed in Christ so that none is able to say it’s concealed: 1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Christ has revealed to humanity the true meaning of the Everlasting Gospel- bringing salvation through His sacrifice at the cross.
Revelation 14:7 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.
To fear God means to respect Him-to take Him seriously- and to give Him our allegiance. He deserves our allegiance because HE is the Creator of heaven and earth.
The only way to give glory unto Him is to reflect His character. When Moses asked to see the glory of God Revealed His character – Exodus 33:18, 19. The perfect life of Christ on earth brought glory to God the father-(John 17:4) and His people in the end will bring Him glory through their purity of heart.
The hour of judgment highlights the fact that-heaven’s tribunal is now in session. According to Daniel 8:14, the final phase of this judgment begun in 1844-and soon all cases of humanity will be decided-whether for heaven or hell. Each day brings us closer to the time when heaven will announce: He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. This is a most solemn and urgent appeal to all humanity to pay attention to the hour of judgment.
Worship Him who made heaven and earth. Worship is the central most integral aspect of humanity. When we worship and how we worship determines who we worship. This subject is very important and should not be taken lightly. Christ makes it clear that we can worship Him in vain(Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7).
God tells us about the worship that he will accept –( John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.)
For us to worship GOD in spirit and truth we must be under the influence of His Spirit- Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit of God will only lead God’s people into truth.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Christ is the living truth… John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Commandments of GOD are the written truth to humanity- Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Psalm 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Any forms of worship that is not based on the influence of the Spirit and the Commandments of GOD is not in accordance with His will.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The preaching of the everlasting gospel has shaken the foundations of Babylon and revealed the man of sin (Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;2 Thess 2:3 KJV).
The bible tells us of two Babylons: Ancient Babylon of the Old Testament and Mystery Babylon of the New Testament. Ancient Babylon was built by Nebuchadnezzar(Daniel 4:30) and was the centre of sophistries, oppression and idolatry.
Some people believe that Mystery Babylon refers to the literal Biblical city of Babylon –but the bible says ancient Babylon would be destroyed and will never be rebuilt. Isa 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isa 13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
The word Babylon is taken from the word Babel Which literally means confusion.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Gen 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Babel builders let off to re-established themselves and. Ended up building ancient Babylon in the land of Shinar in the country known today as Iraq. Because of their wicked idolatrous practices= God destroyed the city forever but, she became a mogel and type of Mystery Babylon of our time,
Jer 51:6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
Jer 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
Jer 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Modern Babylon is the centre of a man-made religious system. The wine of Babylon is her false teaching and she fill the earth with false traditional teachings. The bible tells us that Babylon is now fallen from the grace of God, she is telling the world that she is infallible.
Babylon is Papacy or Roman Catholicism. God has foretold that Mystery Babylon would fall as ancient Babylon. Papal Babylon is fallen because of her false teachings and her wickedness. Babylon corrupted and intoxicated the nations round about her and destruction is now about to overtake her. The message from God to HIS people in Babylon is-flee for your life.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Idolatry, both pagan and papal, is a damning sin in its own nature, and will prove fatal to those who persist in it, after fair warning given by the word of GOD; those who refuse to come out of Babylon, when thus called, and resolve to partake of her sins, must receive of her plagues; and the guilt and ruin of such incorrigible idolaters will serve to set forth the excellency of the patience and obedience of the saints.
Rev 14:9 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,
Rev 14:10 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:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
The sternest warning of the bible is the warning against receiving the mark of the beast. This whole planet is now deciding what to do: whether to accept the mark of the beast or the seal of GOD- the choice is ours.
The world is now dividing into two groups: Those who worship God and receive His seal and those who worship the beast and receive his mark.
For you to know what is the mark of the beast- you must first find out who or what is the beast.
IDENTIFYING THE BEAST.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
A beast in prophecy symbolises kingdom or political power or system: Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. Daniel 7:23
The mark of the beast is the official sign of his authority. The beast is the Papacy- a system of false worship and idolatry. Their official mark of authority is Sunday Worship which will be imposed upon all nations- in opposition of God true Sabbath.
Professing subjection to the beast and promoting his cause and way of worship will incur the unmitigated wrath of GOD. Those accept the mark of the beast must expect to drink of the wrath of God; they shall be for ever tormented. Jesus Christ will inflict this punishment upon them, and the holy angels will behold it and approve of it.
Revelation is describing here a great power which rises up out of the sea.
We learned in chapter 15 that the “sea” or “waters” represent nations, or people.
The beast has seven heads and ten crowns. It covers seven historic periods, with ten kingdoms supporting it. Since it is speaking blasphemy, or words against God, it is apparently a religious power. The description continues:
“Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13:2).
Here is pictured a composite beast. John uses the same symbols that Daniel used in his description of great world powers. He symbolized Babylon as a lion, Medo-Persia as a bear, Greece as a leopard, and the Roman Empire as a dragon-like beast.
The beast of Revelation 13 succeeds this outline of world history. Let’s look at some clues to identify the beast: Revelation is describing here a great power which rises up out of the sea.
We learned in chapter 17:15: that the “sea” or “waters” represent nations, or people.
The beast has seven heads and ten crowns. It covers seven historic periods, with ten kingdoms supporting it. Since it is speaking blasphemy, or words against God, it has to be a religious power. The description continues:
“Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13:2).
John uses the same symbols that Daniel used in his description of great world powers. He symbolized Babylon as a lion, Medo-Persia as a bear, Greece as a leopard, and the Roman Empire as a dragon-like beast.
This beast of Revelation 13 has components of this outline of world history. We’re going to look at seven clues which identify the beast power.
Look at the last part of Revelation 13:2.
“And the dragon gave him his power, his throne and great authority.”
Whoever the beast is of Revelation 13, where does he get his power from? The dragon. Where does he get his throne of government from? The dragon. Where does he get great authority from? The dragon. And who does the dragon represent? The dragon is satan (Revelation 12:9) who worked through the system of Pagan Rome.
Satan always disguised himself through earthly institutions and systems. So, in Revelation 12:9, it identifies the dragon as Satan. But Satan works through human agencies.
In Revelation 12, the dragon working through pagan Rome, attempted to destroy Christ, the man child. A Roman official tried to kill baby Christ. A Roman governor condemned Christ. A Roman executioner crucified Christ. A Roman emblem sealed Christ’s tomb. And a Roman guard watched over the tomb. So, in Revelation 12, the dragon represents Satan working through pagan Rome to destroy Christ.
After pagan Rome fell apart, pagan Rome gave its government or its seat of authority to Papal Rome.
To the succession of the Caesar’s came the succession of the pontiffs-or popes in Rome.
Constantine, seeing that the Roman empire was falling apart, moved his headquarters to Constantinople. And he gave his seat of government in Rome to the pope of Rome.
“The popes filled the place of the vacant emperors of Rome, inheriting their power, prestige, and titles. Pagan Rome gave its authority over to papal Rome. That’s one identifying mark.
This power in Revelation 13 would become a worldwide religious power and political power. Revelation 13:8 says,
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
All who dwell on earth will worship him—a universal power that initiates worship. This is the next identity of the beast.
The power is described in Revelation 13:5, “as a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”
Remember that Christ himself was accused of blasphemy. Why? Because he claimed to be one with God. If Christ hadn’t been Divine he would have been guilty of blasphemy.
The following quotes are blasphemous:
“The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God” (Extracts from Lucius Ferraris, “Papa II” (art.), Prompta Bibliotheca, vol. 6 pages 25-29).
“We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty” (Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII, page 304).
This power also claims to forgive sins.
When Christ said he forgave a certain man’s sins, the Pharisees accused Him of blasphemy. Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” This is true only God has the power to forgive sins. But the papacy claims this authority as well.
“Seek where you will, through Heaven and earth, and you will find but one created being who can forgive the sinner . . . That extraordinary being is the priest, the Catholic priest” (The Catholic Priest, pages 78, 79).
“God Himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of His priest, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution . . . The sentence of the priest precedes, and God subscribes to it” (Dignity and Duties of the Priest, Vol. 12, page 2). According to Biblical definitions this is blasphemy, a counterfeit system of forgiveness. It’s putting something between ourselves and the one true mediator, Jesus Christ. Only God can forgive sins. It was true then. It is true now. No earthly religious leader has the right to interpose himself between our souls and God.
Revelation 13:7, give us another identifying mark.
“And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”
Making war with the saints is referring to persecution.
Christians martyred by the papal system during the Dark Ages number many million. Whole communities were wiped out for crime of “heresy.”
“The church may by divine right confiscate the property of heretics, imprison their persons and condemn them to the flames . . . In our age the right to inflict the severest penalties, even death, belongs to the church . . . There is no graver offense than heresy. . . therefore, it must be rooted out” (Public Ecclesiastical Law, vol. 2, p. 142). This is the work of the beast who makes war with the saints.
This is the next identifying mark:
“And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5).
Forty-two months. A day stands for a year in Bible prophecy (Ezekiel 4:6); thus, 42 months, or 1260 days, equals 1260 years.
This period of time fits well with the history of the Roman Church.
History shows us that 538 AD papacy came to power . In that year the three powers in conflict with the papacy were finally conquered, securing the pope’s position as a religious-political leader. In that same year the decree of Justinian, the Emperor, went into effect making the bishop of Rome the head of all the churches, the definer of doctrine, and the corrector of heretics.
This decree marked the beginning of papal supremacy in 538 AD until 1798 marking 1260 years-the time when one of the heads of the beast was wounded.
The Papal power was seriously wounded, in 1798-when Napoleon sent General Berthier to Rome and took the pope captive.
“The murder of a Frenchman in Rome in 1798 gave the French an excuse for occupying the Eternal City and putting an end to the Papal temporal power. The aged Pontiff himself was carried off into exile to Valence . . . The enemies of the Church rejoiced. the last Pope, they declared, had resigned” (Church History, page 24).
Revelation 13:3 tells us, that the deadly wound would be healed and the world would follow the beast.
The next mark of identity is Revelation 13:18:
“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
In the Bible the number seven represents perfection, completeness. The number six, is a rival symbol of imperfection and rebellion.
The number 666 is an ancient number meaning Fiery Flying Serpent which is a symbol of Sun Worship. All pagan religions are involved in astrology and must use the mystery number 666. The leader of such religion has to wear 666 as part of his insignia. Insignia is a badge or distinguishing mark of authority office or membership.
“Here is wisdom. Let him that had understanding count the number of a man, and the number is 666.” The official title of the papacy, adds up to 666.
The official symbol of the papal authority is the papal tierra. This triple crown indicates the belief the pope is the lord of heaven, earth and lower regions. An inscription once found on the papal tierra is VICARIUS FILII DEI.
The Catholic publication, Our Sunday Visitor, says:
The official title of the papacy is Vicarius Filii Dei or Vicar of the Son of God which is added up to 666.
This final identifying mark shows how the beast will use his power to force people’s consciences. Revelation 13:16,17:
“And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
This is the mark of course that has been the focus of so much attention, and a lot speculation. The mark of the beast is a symbol of rebellion against the government of God and true worship.
Revelation 13 and 14 make it clear that there are two opposing worship powers and, those who ally themselves with the beast will receive his mark.
That’s one group. But those on the Lord’s side will receive His seal- Revelation 7:2, 3:
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
This a group which receives the seal of the living God of ownership and protection are God’s faithful people who keeps His Commandments. They are called the remnant. Revelation 14:12
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Two groups in the last days with different identifying marks. The mark of the beast and the seal of the living God.
The final conflict in earth’s history will center around worship and our response to God’s commands. It’s the seal of God and the mark of the beast. God’s true sign of authority and Satan’s counterfeit mark.
Government seals usually contain three essentials—name, title and territory of ruler and government. We know the seal of the president of the United States, for example, and what it looks like. It has the name, the title and the territory.
The crucial components of God’s seal are the same—name, title and territory. In the Ten Commandments-the fourth one contains the outward seal of God’s authority. It gives his name, title and territory:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work . . . For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
The seal of God is His righteous character in His people but te outward sign is the observance of the true sabbath. Notice, all who are sealed will observe God’s true Sabbath but not all those who keep sabbath will be sealed.
In this way, the Sabbath command serves as God’s outward seal, the seal of God’s authority.
The final controversy between Christ and Satan will center on God’s creatorship, rulership and worship. Satan has refused to acknowledge God as sovereign over creation. And that hostility has contaminated planet Earth. Satan has tried to get men and women to reject and, to revolt against God’s rulership.
The choice is ours-whether we chose God’s way or accept the mark of the beast which is Sunday worship a symbol of rebellion against God.