JULY/AUGUST 2001

Let us Ponder the Traditional Teaching of the Mark of the Beast

Ever since I can remember, I have been told about the mark of the beast of Rev. 13, verses 16 through 18, "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 that he have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is the wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six."

I have seen and read where the number 666 is on clothing labels or various other items and I understand also on the new European currency. All of this is a delusion taking the energy and time of God's people, talking and writing about it, instead of searching and studying the Word. IT IS WRITTEN, to show ourselves, approved unto God, that we are workmen that are not ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the WORD OF TRUTH.

Let us ponder what is truth and rightly divide IT IS WRITTEN in the matter of the MARK concerning God's people.

Do you remember reading Ezekiel chapter 8 and 9, or have you heard anyone teach these chapters? They are a picture of the church and the remnant that is within the present day church. God calls Ezekiel, Son of man, Jesus is called Son of man, here in chapter 8, verse 6, God says to Ezekiel, "Son of man see what great abominations are committed here, that I should go away from My sanctuary, (the church)". In verse seven, Ezekiel is brought to the door of the temple, in verse nine, he is told to go in. Verse ten, Ezekiel goes in and finds every kind of abominable picture portrayed on the walls of the temple.

There were seventy men, the elders of the church, and every man in the chambers of his imagination (his mind, fornication, adultery, pornography???) Why? Because they have forsaken God's statutes - commandments and judgments, just as the church has today - you never hear Leviticus chapter 18 or 20, or Deuteronomy chapter 27 taught from the pulpit, at least I never did, that is another subject.

Ezekiel chapter 8, verses 17 and 18 says, "Is it a light thing that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence." How true this is of America - abortion, murder, adultery, fornication and violence, you can find it all in the church. What does verse 18 say: "Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them." Leviticus, chapter 19 verse 28 says, "Ye shall be Holy: for I the LORD your God am Holy. And Deuteronomy 6 verse 24 and 25 says, "The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, and it shall be our righteousness if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us."

This has been an introduction to our subject, now we come to chapter 9 of Ezekiel, and our subject, "The Mark of the Beast", and how the traditional church has taught us both error and fear.

In verse one, GOD cries with a loud voice, and says, "Cause those that have charge over the city, "the church", to come near. And six men came from the north, and every man had a slaughter weapon (sword) in his hand: But there was a seventh man clothed in linen, with a writer's ink horn by his side, and they all stood besides the brazen alter (the place of judgment). And the LORD called to the man clothed in linen, which had the writers ink horn by his side: And the LORD said unto him, go through the mist of the city, Jerusalem, (the church) and set a MARK upon the foreheads of the men (women, boys, girls) that sigh and cry, (intercessors) for all the abominations that are done in the mist thereof. (Revelation chapter 7,verse 2 and 3 says, "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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads" (the overcomers and servants of the LORD)) Ezekiel 9:5, "And to the others He said in mine, (Ezekiel's) hearing, Go you after him through the city, (church) and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have you pity: And in Revelation 9 verse 4 it says, "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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. What did Jesus say in Matthew 13 verse 30 about the tares? Gather first the tarts and burn them, then gather the wheat. Ezekiel 9 verse 6 goes on to say, slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man (woman, boy, girl) upon whom is the MARK: and begin at my sanctuary (the church). This is great tribulation, but the MARKED ones - the intercessor, the overcomers - are not taken out. They are present at the time of judgment, both here in Ezekiel chapter 9 and in Revelation chapter 7.

Back to verse 6, they began where? At the sanctuary (church) with the ancient men (elders and pastors) which were before the house. Verse 7, "And He said unto them, Defile the house (church) and fill the courts with the slain Go ye forth, and they went forth, and slew in the city." Verse 10 and 11 say, "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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." This is an awesome and sobering revelation for the church, you and me. Today God is looking for intercessors in the household of faith to be His battle axe of war- to stand in the gap and make up the hedge and fight the fight of faith to set the captives free - until your hand is welded to the sword of faith.

Who are the marked ones? They are the overcomers, the recipients of the EIGHT great promises of Revelation chapter 2 verse 7, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.", verse 11, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." verse 17, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.", verse 26, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:", also in chapter 3 verse 5, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." verse 12, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." verse 21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." And most wonderful of all, chapter 21 verse 7, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

Who are these marked ones - the intercessors, the overcomers - Revelation chapter 21, verse 7 says that they are the Sons of God. What are the criteria? John 2 verse 3 says, "and hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." And 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 15 and 16 says, "But as He which has called you is Holy, so be you Holy in all manner of conversation: Because IT IS WRITTEN, Be ye Holy; for I AM Holy." And Jesus says in Revelation 22 verse 13 and 14, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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."

The MARK of the beast is not our concern, and I rebuke fear that has been put in to the household of faith by this teaching. My concern and yours is that we are faithful intercessors and are sealed with the MARK OF GOD. Written By Glen Miller

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