The “Little Horn”

Daniel 7:1-28 introduces and speaks of something called “the little horn.” Dan 7:25 there sheds important light on what happened in the Roman Empire. Here is what Daniel wrote: “And he [the little horn, the same as the false “woman” church] shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High”—now get this next point and do not misunderstand—“and think to change TIMES and LAWS” (Dan. 7:25).

This is a remarkable statement about how the great false “woman” church sought to alter God’s LAW as it had to do with TIME. The single most obvious way has been to change the time of God’s Sabbath to the pagan SUN’S DAY (the day long set apart by men for worship of the sun), thus altering the fourth great law of God! (More and more people today speak of Sunday as their “sabbath.”)

HOW PLAIN has been the work of this church in its efforts to “wear out the saints”!—and to speak against “the most High”!

Is it any wonder that God will pour out His wrath without mercy on any who would dare to do these things to His Word and to His people?

God has never authorized His Church or mankind to keep the pagan Sun’s day. Nor did He ever command or allow His people to keep numerous other pagan festivals and days of worship—and has always explicitly commanded against them!

What You Obey

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, explained that people are the servants of whatever and whoever they obey: “Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).

People either serve and obey God, and are given eternal life—or they serve and obey sin and the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), Satan, and earn eternal death (Rom. 6:23)!

In the Old Testament, Sabbath-breaking was punishable by death (Exod. 31:14 and 15). 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 describes the Old Testament administration of a civil death penalty, which is no longer applicable, because God is now building the nation of spiritual Israel (Rom. 2:28-29; 8:9;11:24-26; Gal. 3:29; Eph. 2:11-13, 19; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9).

The Sabbath was to be kept perpetually, throughout the generations of Israel. There are still generations of Israel today—and there is spiritual Israel, which keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Take heed whether and how you will obey God. For “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:28-29).

This is most serious!

In plain terms, the mark of the beast is SUNDAY-KEEPING AND THE KEEPING OF PAGAN FESTIVALS—in place of God’s weekly and annual Sabbaths!

Towering—truly colossal!—prophecies, concerning the most terrible calamities to ever strike the earth, are now unfolding. You have seen them explained in clear and plain detail. A spiritually darkened, blind, and deceived world rushes headlong toward disaster, now just ahead. They do not suspect that God’s wrath, poured out in full fury, and undiluted with mercy, will soon fall on a sin-ravaged humanity that God has marked to receive it.

These prophecies are certain—they are sure. They will happen!

Will you be deceived when they come to pass? Will you be seduced by miracles and lying wonders? Will you take the mark of the beast? Will you worship the beast and his image? Will you follow the masses and ignore God?

Or will you obey God, watch and pray always—and ESCAPE?

How the Mark Is Made

The issue of the mark of the Beast being received on the hand and forehead is no different from most of the examples found throughout the book of Revelation. It is symbolic. The right hand represents labour or work, what one does. The forehead symbolizes the human mind or intellect, what one believes. God wants us to understand that it is what we BELIEVE and what we DO that reveals who we have chosen to obey in regards to Sabbath- or Sunday-keeping.

The Roman church forced people to take Rome’s mark of Sunday observance. This was the day that the entire Roman Empire kept. The penalty for disobeying this order was death! The facts of history are unmistakable—at least 50 million people were killed.

The Sabbath command is the only commandment that would clearly identify those who have either taken the mark of the Beast or the sign of God. The Fourth Commandment is the only one that the world does not accept in its mind and then obey (working, or resting with the hand).

But did you realize that God’s sign is also directly tied to the hand and forehead? It is seen to also distinguish His people from the rest of the world. Notice this passage about one of God’s annual Sabbaths: “... it shall be for a sign unto you upon your HAND, and for a memorial BETWEEN YOUR EYES, that the LORD’S Law may be in your mouth” (Exod. 13:9).

Also take note of the following verses in Deuteronomy about God’s identifying sign: “Now these are the commandments.... And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them diligently you’re your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your HAND, and they shall be as frontlets BETWEEN YOUR EYES” (Deut. 6:1, 6-8).

“Therefore shall you lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your HAND, that they may be as frontlets BETWEEN YOUR EYES” (Deut. 11:18). Also read Proverbs 7:2-3 and Revelation 7:3-4; 14:1.

This is proof from your Bible that God, in His own way, marks His servants who keep His weekly or annual Sabbaths. God’s truth on this matter is unmistakably clear. To the open-minded reader, there should be no room for doubt.

During the Middle Ages, the Roman church did in fact cause all those in the “Holy Roman Empire” to take the mark. The impact of this doctrine was not limited to church members forced to observe Sunday instead of the Sabbath. Sunday-keeping had become even at that time so widespread that it caused the entire Western world—despite religious background or affiliation—to accept Sunday as opposed to Saturday as the weekly day of rest. This is now a near-universal practice in the West, with certain religions such as Judaism, Islam, and a few Christian denominations the only exceptions. The few that God has called out of this world to be placed in His true Church would also be an exception to the vast majority who worship on Sunday.

Every nation on Earth is deceived by the false religious system that calls itself Christianity while following pagan practices. God gives a strong warning in Revelation to those who wish to be protected from the times to come: “Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4).

Is the Roman church still enforcing this mark? Although it does not currently hold the power to force this mark on everyone, a United States of Europe is coming. It will be a union of ten nations that will be a combination of state and religion—the Holy Roman Church will again ride “the Beast.”

Will you choose the mark of the Beast, or will you obey God and take His identifying sign?

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