Verse 16 “And he causes all, the little and great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the bondmen, that they should give themselves a mark on the right hand or in their forehead;” that is to say,  the Image causes all who would be its followers and worshipers to commit themselves either by a public profession (mark in forehead), or by giving able support with their might, power and means (mark in right hand).

A mark is a seal or sign of allegiance.

B. How do the various denominational churches constituting the Image follow Papacy?

A. In many ways. For instance: Papacy established the clerical hierarchy, who lord it over God’s heritage instead of serving their brethren as Jesus explained – “One is your Master and all you are brethren,” and as Paul said –

“We are to speak the truth in love and grow up into Him in all things who is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together (not by creeds of men, but by love begotten by the one Spirit of truth) and compacted by that which every joint supplies (every joint is every member, not the clergy only) making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Thus coming “to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” Ephesians Chapter 4.

As Papacy established the priesthood over the church, so Protestantism has established almost the same, and there is no opportunity for the body to edify itself, every joint taking part. True, there is a seeming show of liberty at prayer meetings, and etc., but it is only upon the surface, for the ordained pastor is to watch zealously lest anything contrary to the teachings of his church should be expressed, and if so to silence the audacious member at once, for the church creed is the rule, not the Word of God. If this is not sufficient, they must have a sort of church trial and excommunicate him [“kill him” symbolically].

The trial, by the way, gives evidence of another likeness to the beast, namely, the exaltation of the teachings of the organization above the Word of God, for all such are tried according to “the authorities” of their church.

Another mark is the ordination or apostolic succession. This is claimed by Methodists and others, who go through the same form of consecrating their ministers as do the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches, and without scriptural authority.

B. Do you not think it right that fellow servants should pray over and in the name of God set apart a fellow member for the Lord’s service?

A. O yes! What I object to is the idea held, that some supernatural power and wisdom is conveyed, and that it is particular that the blessing come in a direct descent from the first Apostles. Another prominent mark of the beast copied by the image is the honoring of the special class, the clergy, with special honors and titles. They are known as Reverends, Divines, and etc., but Jesus, the true divine, said: “You call me Lord and Master, and you say well, for so I am.” “Be not you called Rabbi, neither be you called Masters, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all you are brethren (Matt 23:8). These titles are assumptions fashioned after those of Papacy.

When the various denominations began their existence, much more full of the spirit of Christ then they now are, they claimed no such high-sounding titles. The Reformers were not known as the Reverend Such and such, Doctors of Divinity and etc., but as John Knox, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and etc. Unpretentious, like Jesus and the Apostles, they were intent upon serving God and therefore became the servants (ministers) of the church. These had marks of God’s approval, and as a result, their ministry was wonderfully blest. But now the clergy are far from being servants, they are Lords. They have itching ears, loving the approval of men. As pride and worldliness have come in, vital godliness and power have gradually departed.

For the very same reason they are losing all power to expound the Word of God – the gift of teaching – because “God abhors the proud but giveth grace (favor) to the humble.” The early reformers were humble, and God led them into much knowledge of His Word, and although we are much farther along “the path of the just,” and the servants should have more light and bring things new as well as old from the Word, yet we find ministers of all denominations ready to confess their ignorance of the Word. They appeal for their information back to the early reformers, and thus confess that they have less light than they. Pride always has hindered growth in grace and does now. “How can you believe who receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor which cometh from God, only?”

That their light should grow dim and their spiritual life become dwarfed is the natural result of their joining the image and subscribing to creeds made in the fifteenth century, which, like the iron shoe of China, will not admit of any growth. It is a shoe a little larger than Papacy put upon its followers but of the same sort.

Another mark received by nearly all is sprinkling instead of Baptism (complete water immersion as practiced by the early church).

This has been handed down through the Church of Rome to the Churches of England and Germany, and through the influence of these to the allied Evangelical churches.

The word baptize is not a translated word, but a transferred Greek word, and means to dip, immerse, wash, as is abundantly proven by its use in hundreds of instances in profane Greek literature. Its use in scripture seems also to teach the same thing, as well as the admitted fact that all Christians for nearly three centuries practiced immersion.

The Church of Rome (the only one which has a history) admits that the word signifies, to immerse, and that it was so practiced by early Christians, but claims that SHE changed it. She claims that she, through her head, the Pope, (the vicar of Christ), had authority to change any ordinance. This is in harmony with the spirit of Papacy as illustrated in the quotation at our last meeting from Pope Martin: “Wherefore no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things, yea, with the precepts of Christ.”

Can you wonder that I should feel aggrieved to see fellow Christians ignore the precepts of Christ and exalt instead the teachings of men, claiming that it makes no difference?

B. Certainly if these are marks of the beast, it is time that all Christians should realize it. Also, that all who are worshiping any church organization should be warned. “See thou do it not.” These are thy fellow servants. “Worship God.” Rev 22:9.

A. The image worship is hindering hundreds from seeing the beauties of the Word of God. They may perhaps glance at it and for a moment think for themselves, but that is all. The church discipline is so strict and they reverence it so much that a look or frown is sufficient to warn them that independent thought is a dangerous thing and must not be indulged in, lest they be regarded as infidels.

Would that all could see that these local organizations (Denominations) called churches are not THE CHURCH, but that the Church of God includes all Christians, all whose names are written in Heaven (not on some church role here on earth), and that when these local organizations attempt to come between them as children, and God their Father, or to put their creed instead of the Word of God, their assumed authority is not to be recognized, nor tolerated; and that it is our duty to rebuke it as sinful.

Verse 17 “So that no one may be able to buy or sell unless he who has the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

The buying and selling here are doubtless symbolic, and refer to trading, or exchanging of spiritual things – truths. None are recognized as having a right to teach or preach unless they have these marks; i.e., he must have a theological examination to see whether he bears all the marks and reverences the authority of the image. He must either be a part of the beast itself, or of the number of his name – one of the many denominations approved of by orthodoxy.” R63

For a more through study of this subject please see Revelation Chapter 13.