Part VIII-a... The Mark of the Beast We’re coming on down to the end of this series on prophecy... This beast that once was, then was not; is now an eighth; and brings us to this study which is on (The Mark of that Beast). So I hope these studies are helping us understand God’s Word as we’re looking at Bible prophecy. It’s most important that we understand where we are. What says the Bible, the blessed Bible? This should my only question be. Prophecy is fulfilling, the end is nearing. What says the Word of God to me? That’s what we want to find out. That’s what we want to know. We’ve actually had two studies... or two series on prophecy... the first one we did was Five Have Fallen and the second part was about a beast that was, and is not, one is, and another has not yet come ; but when he does come , he must remain for only a little while. The beast that was, and now is not , is himself an eighth king, is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Those are the two studies on the prophecy of the beast. This has been a very, very important study because this is an area that most people misunderstand. And neither do they understand what the scripture teaches about life in Jesus Christ. This study is about The Mark of the Beast... We want to find out what it is. That’s what we want to know. Well first of all, we need to be very, very clear in our thinking as to who the beast is. We need to establish that... Have a clear understanding of that. Also we want to be very clear in our thinking of what the image to the beast is. We need to also understand clearly what the mark is. How does a person receive this mark and what’s involved in that. Now the scripture is very, very clear on this subject. So it’s not something that we have to be in doubt about. It’s very clear about what the Mark of the Beast is. So let’s follow along as we take a look at this mark of the beast. I think you’ll find it to be a subject that will help you see clearly what the scripture teaches. Heavenly Father, as we study Your Word, as we look at this subject, as we pray for the Holy Spirit in a special way. We pray that He may be present. That He will give us the insight, the knowledge, and the understanding. That we may purpose in our hearts to stand on Your side and to follow You and to walk with You. To let You be our God and that we will say “We are Your people, You be our God.” We pray that we will walk and follow You by faith. We ask that You grant us that opportunity and that privilege is our pray; In Christ’s name, Amen. Well over the years, I just can’t count all the different things that I have heard people say that the mark of the beast was. I even remember when they said that somebody’s going to come around with a branding iron and is going to brand 666 on your forehead. And everybody’s going to receive the mark of the beast. And many people believed that that’s the way it was going to happen. And then as time went on, people said when they came out with social security numbers they said... “Don’t take one of those things. If you take a social security number, you’re going to get the mark of the beast... without question you’re going to have it.” 1 And then I can remember... I was just a kid at the time of the Second World War and they came out with rationing stamps. And they said... “Don’t take them. If you take those rationing stamps, you’re going to get the mark of the beast. That’s just for sure... you’ll get it.” But they didn’t. And then, just here in the last few years, they talked about the computer chip. Saying... “Oh, somebody’s going to come around and they’re going to put in your forehead a computer chip and that will be the mark of the beast.” So you hear all kinds of things about the mark of the beast, what it was and so forth. We need to understand what the mark of the beast is. It’s Very, very important that we understand where we stand. Well you see the scripture divides things into two’s. Not threes... it divides things into two’s. It talks about the saved and the lost; the sheep and the goats; the righteous and the unrighteous. When it comes to the mark of the beast, It’s divided into two’s... only two. The one’s that have the mark of the beast... and the ones that don’t. Let’s watch what the scripture says about it. These are the people that receive the mark of the beast. Contrasting those people you read in Revelation 15 and it says... Here are the people that don’t have the mark of the beast. So you have two classes... those that have the mark of the beast; those that do not have the mark of the beast. Therefore, for you and I, and I don’t care where you are in the world, anywhere in the world you have to make a decision, a decision as to whether you’re going to be on God’s side or whether you’re going to be on the beast’s side... Because there’s only two classes... that’s all there is. And so in this study we want to clearly identify, first who the beast is. Now the beast that’s referred to here is the beast mentioned in Revelation the 13 th Chapter. But we found out in our last study last study... the last presentation we found out that the best of Revelation 13 is also the one that’s pictured in Revelation 17. OK? Because he’s the one that was, is not, yet is, so let’s take a look at what the scripture says about this beast here in Revelation 13, and I have italicized different parts in these texts to help us identify who it is... And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 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. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed... and the entire world wondered after the beast. 2 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? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven . And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them... and power was given him over all kindreds , and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him , whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man has an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity... he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb , and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, who’s deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders , so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads... And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.