In Revelation 15:1 we're told the wrath of God is the seven last plagues just before Jesus comes. These plagues will be the most terrible scourges ever poured out upon man. Now let's ask an intelligent question. "Would our great God, who is so desperate in His love to save us, threaten us with this terrible wrath if we could not know who the Beast is, and what his mark is?" " No! " God has made it abundantly clear.

     The Bible teaches that only those that have the "Seal of God" are saved (Revelation 7:2- 3). God will give each person the opportunity to choose whether they will yield their allegiance to Him or the Beast power. Whatever the Mark of the Beast is, it is obviously something about which God feels "very strongly".

     We discovered in earlier lessons who the Beast is as we compared Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. Daniel 7 gave us nine marks of identification. Let's review them quickly.

     Daniel 7:3, four beasts came up and we found according to verse 23 that beasts in prophecy always represent kings and kingdoms. The first beast is found in Daniel 7:4 -- a lion representing Babylon. The second beast is found in Daniel 7:5 -- a bear epresenting Medo-persia. The third beast is found in Daniel 7:6 -- a leopard representing Greece. And the fourth beast is found in Daniel 7:7 - a strange beast representing Rome. We found the 10 horns according to verse 24 were 10 kingdoms, and when Rome fell it divided into exactly 10 kingdoms making up the Western European nations today.

     Then in Daniel 7:8 we found a "little horn" coming up, and we found it was the same power and kingdom as the beast of Revelation 13. There were ten marks of identification:

1. It came up among the 10 European kingdoms (Daniel 7:8).
2. It came up after 476 A.D.
3. It would be a little horn or a little kingdom (Daniel 7:8).
4. It uprooted three other kingdoms - the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths (Daniel 7:8).
5. It would have a man at the head of the kingdom (Daniel 7:8).
6. It was a different kingdom than any other (Daniel 7:24).
7. It would speak blasphemy (Daniel 7:25).
8. It would persecute God's people (Daniel 7:25).
9. It would think to change times and laws (Daniel 7:25).
10. It would rule 1260 years (Daniel 7:25).

     As we studied, we found beyond question that these points fit only one power in history - the "Vatican City and the Papacy."

     As we compared this "little horn" or kingdom with the beast of Revelation 13, we found these same characteristics. In Revelation 13:1- 2 we saw that the beast was made up of the four beasts of Daniel 7, and verse 3 said it would rule 1260 years. In verse 6 we saw it spoke blasphemy. Verse 7 says it was a persecuting power. And as a last mark of identification we found that the number "666" was the number of his name. (See Parts 3 and 4 for a thorough review of this).

     We asked, Why did God symbolize the Vatican and Papacy by the beast of Revelation 13 which had the body of a leopard, head of a lion, and feet of a bear? We discovered it was because the Papal system incorporated doctrines and ideas from all these pagan empires especially Babylon. It drew many of its doctrines, beliefs, practices, and teachings from Babylon and the other kingdoms that followed. It clothed these false teachings in a spiritual garb, and spread them to the whole world.

     Today God is calling His people out of Babylon. In Revelation God describes those who worship the beast:

Revelation 14:9-10 "^[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, ^[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."

     However, in Revelation He also describes the saints who stand in contrast as those who "keep the commandments of God" and how we are at war with the dragon's forces.

Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

     We then see that not only are the dragon's forces given a mark but that also we are given a mark by our Lord:

Revelation 7:2-3 "^[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, ^[3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

     God's servants have the "seal of God" in their foreheads. What is the Seal of God? In Revelations we are told that it's the "Father's name":

Revelation 22:4 "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads,"

     This is also repeated:

Revelation 14:1 "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."

     Next question, "What then is the Mark of the Beast?" In Revelations it says it's the "mark of his name" (Satan's name) in their foreheads.

Revelation 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."

     As Christians we need to "focus" on receiving the Seal of God "rather than worrying" (as so many do) about receiving the Mark of the Beast. You see, if you have the Seal of God, you don't have to worry about the Mark of the Beast! Let's study then how you can receive the Seal of God.

II Corinthians 1:21-22 "^[21] Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; ^[22] Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

     Here we see God seals us through the working of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Ephesians how:

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."

The word of "truth", when believed, allows the Holy Spirit to seal us.

1. The Word: John 17:17 2. The Law: Psalm 119:142 3. The Christ: John 14:6.

GOD'S SIDE	BEAST'S SIDE
Worships Him who made us Accepts Jesus as Savior Follows the faith of Jesus Keeps commandments of God Follows testimony of Jesus Has Seal of God in forehead The Father's name in forehead	Worships the Beast Rejects Jesus as Savior Follows the teachings of Babylon Keeps commandments of Men Follows the image of the Beast Has Mark of Beast in forehead The Beast's name in forehead

1. The Holy Spirit leads us to truth: (The Word)

   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."

2. The Holy Spirit reproves us of sin, righteousness, and judgment: (The Law)

   John 16:8 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"

3. The Holy Spirit comforts and points us to Jesus: (The Christ)

   John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

     So there are three steps involved in receiving the Seal of God. First we must let the Spirit lead us to "truth - the Word. It is here that many never receive the Seal of God. They are too busy, or too indifferent, and they never take time to seek the truth. However, for those who let the Spirit lead them to truth, those who earnestly study their Bibles, they then take the first step in receiving the Seal of God.

     Secondly, the Spirit "reproves of sin, righteousness and judgment." Again here many people never receive the Seal of God. When the Spirit reproves them of sin, (the transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4) they refuse to give up their sin. When the Spirit leads them to do righteousness, they don't want to do what's right. And as the Spirit tells them of God's judgment, they disregard it. At any of these points a person can miss receiving the Seal of God. But again for those who "confess and forsake sin," those who "do righteousness," and those who ask Christ to intercede His blood for them in the judgment, they allow the Holy Spirit to work and accomplish this step in their lives.

     Thirdly, the Spirit "comforts." Those who love the truth, and walk in the Word, having chosen to forsake sin and do what's right, find in Christ a comfort when they accept Him as their Lord and Savior. (see "How can I get to Heaven?") They find One who forgives, and gives power and peace in their lives. Because they believe in God, His Word and in Jesus Christ, the "Father's name" is in their foreheads, they have the "Seal of God", for in their hearts they have "chosen" God's side.

     Thus the issue becomes plain. God's side believes in the true God. They "worship Him". They "love Him" and "keep His commandments". They "follow His Word" and rejoice in the truth. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and have the Seal of God - "the Father's name" in their foreheads. Obviously this "seal" is not a literal visible seal. Your forehead represents "your mind" where you make decisions. When you choose God, His name and law is symbolically written in your mind.

Hebrews 10:15-16 "^[15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ^[16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

     It's a simple step by step counterfeit of the Seal of God. Let's see step by step how a person receives the Mark of the Beast in their forehead.

II Thessalonians 2:10 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

     Here is the first step to receiving the Mark of the Beast: Refusing to love the "truth" (the truth is what is sealed in the saints). So the first step is simple, you don't have to do any thing wrong, you just refuse to do what's right.

     The second step in receiving the Mark of the Beast is:

II Thessalonians 2:11 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

     What is that lie? It is explained to us very plainly by the Apostle John:

I John 2:3-4 "^[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ^[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

     "To say that you can still go to heaven without accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and while breaking the law is a lie." Rather than loving Jesus, accepting him as their Lord and Savior, and keeping His commandments, people choose to follow the Beast's lie.

     The third step is also found in II Thessalonians:

II Thessalonians 2:12 "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

     They are damned for not believing the truth. Rather than being comforted by the Spirit who leads to Jesus Christ, they stand condemned for following the Antichrist. Because of their "willful" decision to follow the Beast, its false teachings and practices, the Beast's name is in their forehead and they are lost having received the Mark of the Beast. The process is a step by step counterfeit of the Holy Spirit's work to give us the Seal of God.

     It is interesting to notice this also. The Seal of God "can only be received in the forehead". But the Mark of the Beast "can be received in the forehead, or hand". Why is this?

     There are many people today who make a decision to "believe a lie." Not only blind, but "willfully" blind. They receive it in their forehead. There are many other people today, however, who don't believe in anything. They never read the Bible, and don't intend to. They don't know God, don't care about God, and just continue in their lives of sin. Such people receive the mark in their hand. The hand symbolizes works, and actions. While these people do not believe in the Beast, their works reveal they follow its teachings and errors. "They are on the Beast's side not by decision, but by their lifestyle showing their allegiance."

     It is a matter of allegiance. Paul tells us in Romans that whoever we obey we become the servants of:

Romans 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

     It's also a matter of true worship. Who will you worship, God or the Beast power? Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

Matthew 15:8-9 "^[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ^[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

     Today God lovingly invites us to worship Him in spirit and truth. The decisions we make today will affect our eternal destiny. In Revelations God's people stand in heaven on the sea of glass, victorious over the Beast and its mark.

Revelation 15:2 "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

     If we are to be there we must first choose that victory here. May God bless you as you choose to receive the Seal of God in your forehead, and to reject the Mark of the Beast. Will you make that eternal decision today?

     Some of you may be saying to yourselves, "Hey, wait a minute Russ! Doesn't it talk about receiving a physical mark of the beast in the scriptures somewhere?" Yes it does! And it's located in:

Revelation 13:16-17 "^[16] 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: ^[17] 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."

     But before this "physical mark or seal" is taken by individuals, the "seal of the Devil" or the "Seal of God" is placed on each of us.

     Now as far as this "physical mark" goes, it's basically simply guess work at this point as to what it will be or look like. If you'd like to see my current best guess at what that mark will be then you can review my article "Mark of the Devil?" by "clicking here!"