IN WHICH GROUP ARE YOU? There will be only two groups of people living in the end times. One group worships the beast. The second group worships God. In which group are you?

We continue our study of the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14; within this context, we seek to determine who receives the mark of the beast.

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Let Us Invite God’s Presence:

Holy Father, keep us in your care and give us the mind to obey you over any earthly power. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The mark of the beast is mentioned in the Bible, particularly in the book of Revelation. It is associated with a time of great trouble. According to the Bible, a figure called the Beast will rise to power and demand our loyalty and worship. Remember that the word beast is symbolic of kingdoms, nations, and ruling powers.

People see the mark of the beast in different ways. Some believe it could be a visible mark like a tattoo or a brand. Throughout history, many ideas have emerged about what the mark of the beast is.

Some people have connected it to specific technologies like barcodes and computer chips. But who receives the Mark of the Beast?

Revelation 14:12 and Revelation 14:9 provide a contrast between the two groups that will exist in the end time. It contrasts the worshippers of God and those that worship the beast and receive its mark.

Revelation 14:9 indicates that the worshippers of the beast have his image and receive his mark.

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, (Revelation 14:9)

In contrast, Revelation 14:12 tells us that the worshippers of God keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

The people of God are solid in their belief in God because they have followed the instructions he has given them, as in Deuteronomy 6:8 and Deuteronomy 11:18. Hence, the word of God is sealed in their hearts and minds.

Deuteronomy 6:8

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 6:8)

Deuteronomy 11:18

18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 11:18)

Like the Psalmist in Psalms 119:11, Those with the seal of God have hidden God’s word in their heart.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11)

So, there will be two groups of people living in the end times. The first group of people on earth worship the beast and receive his image. The second group worships God and keeps His commandments. His commandments include the Sabbath or the fourth commandment.

The fourth commandment becomes very significant to the worshipper of God in the end time because the beast attempts to tamper with the fourth commandment.

In other words, working through the sea beast and land beasts, Satan will attempt to undermine God’s power and authority. Keep in mind that these beasts are symbolic of kingdoms, nations, and ruling powers. Hence, Satan, in disguise, attacks the institutions God has set aside.

The mark of the Beast is placed on the forehead or on the hand. The forehead is symbolic of our minds, thoughts, and choices. The mind is where conscience, reasoning, and judgment are located. The hand is symbolic of our actions and deeds. It is the things we do.

The day is coming, and it could be sooner than we think; governments will pass laws that will take away our rights and our religious freedom.

These laws will impact our minds, our reasoning, our thoughts, and our choices. They will dictate what we can and cannot do.

Here is what it says in the book The Great Controversy:  

“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 592.

As many may know, the Church of Rome claims that Sunday is the special mark of its power and authority in religious matters. It says in The American Catholic Quarterly Review:

“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. . . . And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.”—The American Catholic Quarterly Review, January 1883.

The book of Revelation lets us know that in the future, a terrible crisis will come upon us. It will be an international crisis. It is uncertain what it will be, but it will bring about a radical political, social, religious, and moral transformation.  At that time, Sunday worship will be enforced and become a mark of loyalty to the beast, the religiopolitical world-ruling power.

It is unknown how or when this will happen. However, scripture gives enough information that lets us know that the great controversy, the battle between good and evil, is going to climax around the issue of worship.

 It will be a choice between either worshipping the beast, Satan, and receiving his mark of worship or worshipping the Creator, God, and receiving his mark of worship.  From this, it becomes evident that the seventh-day Sabbath will play a central role in it. For more information, view Part 6: The Sabbath Test

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