Bible Truth Versus Adventist Truth The Mark of the Beast

Adventist Truth about the Mark of the Beast Seventh-day Adventists teach that the "mark of the best" of Revelation 14 is placed upon those who worship on Sunday instead of Sabbath. Following are the main points in this doctrine: 1. Adventists identify the union of Roman Catholicism with civil power as the "beast" of Revelation: "The beast described in Revelation 13:1-10 is the church-state union that dominated the Christian world for many centuries and was described by Paul as the 'man of sin' (2 Thess. 2:2-4) and by Daniel as the 'little horn' (Den. 7:8, 20-25; 8:9-12). The image of the beast represents that form of apostate religion that will be developed when churches having lost the true spirit of the Reformation, shall unite with the state to enforce their teachings on others."1 2. At the end of time, a conflict will arise between those who worship the beast and his image and those who are the true followers of God. What sets these two groups apart is that one group, the true followers, keeps Saturday as a holy day, and the other group, the apostates, keeps Sunday as a holy day: "One class will advocate a gospel of human devisings and will worship the beast and his image... The other class, in marked contrast, will live by the true gospel and 'keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus' (Rev. 14:9,12)... those who reject God's memorial of creatorship--the Bible Sabbath--choosing to worship and honor Sunday...will receive the mark of the beast."2 3. At the end of time, those who keep Sunday as a holy day will seek to destroy those who keep Saturday as a holy day. They will pass laws against the Sabbath-keepers, eventually passing a death-penalty for those who keep Saturday holy. These laws, prophesied by church prophetess Ellen White, are known to Adventists as the National Sunday Law or Universal Sunday Law: "Those who obey God will experience the wrath of the dragon (Rev. 12:17) and eventually be threatened with death (Rev. 13:15)."3 These laws will cause all to choose which leader to follow, the beast or God. 4. Jesus will return to put an end to the conflict, and those who kept Saturday as a holy day will "stand together with the Lamb on Mount Zion" while the Sunday-keepers will "receive the full wrath of God and die".4

Problems with Adventist Truth about Mark of the Beast 1. The New Testament never describes the Sabbath as the one great issue that will divide the true believers from the false believers. If the Sabbath was indeed such a profound issue, such a "life-or-death" matter of eternal consequence, then why did Jesus and the Apostles say nothing of its importance? Paul described the Sabbath as a "shadow" (Col. 2:14-17) and said Christians should not judge eachother upon what day, if any, they decide to keep holy: One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom. 14:5 NIV) In the book of Romans Paul had the perfect opportunity to explain to the world the profound importance of keeping Saturday as a holy day. He could have let the early Christians know how important this day was to God and how critical it was that they keep it because their eternal safety depended upon the choice they made regarding the Sabbath. He could have said all that. But he did not. Why? Was it because God wanted us to figure out the most profound issue in Christianity on our own, without any help or guidance from His Word? Or was it because the writers of the Bible were not inspired and had no idea this would become an issue at the end of time? 2. It is absurd to think that such a critical decision--a decision upon which hinges the eternal destination of the Christian believer--would be met with silence in the New Testament. Every student knows that when a teacher has an important point to make to his students, he reiterates that point over and over again. Jesus and the Apostles were the greatest teachers this world has ever seen. The points they repeatedly emphasized were: Love Grace Forgiveness Mercy Doing good to others Faith Salvation Return of Christ Dangers of Legalism These subjects are repeated over and over again in the New Testament. What about the necessity of keeping Sabbath as a holy day? It is never mentioned in the New Testament, not even once. And yet are we to believe this is the single-most important issue that is supposed to decide the fate of humanity? 3. Adventist end-time theology all boils down to this: Those who keep Sabbath go to heaven, and the rest get burned in hell fire. This is a species of legalism. It makes the Sabbath, instead of grace or salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as the most important end-time issue. It takes the focus off of Jesus and puts the focus on works of the flesh. Any Christian can tell you that what day you go to church on does not make you a Christian in any way, shape, or form. A man may go to church on Saturday, but his heart may be filled with hatred, adultery, and every kind of evil. Another man may go to church on Sunday but his heart may be filled with love, kindness, faith, and the grace of God. The external act of keeping a day holy is not a "sign" or "mark" of true Christianity. The "sign" of true Christianity is having Jesus in your heart and loving others: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Gal. 5:14) 4. According to Adventist end-time teachings, God returns back to the earth to punish the evil-doers, whose great crime is in forcing people to worship God on Sunday. The battle between Sabbath-keepers and Sunday-keepers is supposedly the final battle in the Great Controversy. Is Sunday-keeping such a great and horrendous sin? Let us examine the major sins pointed out in the New Testament and see how they are impacting us today: Sin New Testament passages Problems caused by the Sin Murder, Genocide, Terrorism Matt. 15:19, Rom. 1:29, Gal. 5:21, Rev. 9:21 Tens of millions killed in the last 75 years--Germany (Hitler), Soviet Union (Stalin), Uganda, Serbia, Bosnia Witchcraft, Occult/Satanic Activities Gal. 5:20, Rev. 9:21 Harry Potter generation; Wicca (Witchcraft) is fastest growing religion in the world; New Age deceptions Drunkeness, orgies Luke 21:34, Rom. 13:13, Gal. 5:21, 1 Pet. 4:3 Alcohol sales booming around the world; drugs are destroying the youth; pornography destroying marriages Persecuting and killing Christians Matt. 23:34, Luke 21:12, Rev. 17:6 More Christians being persectued and killed today than at any time in human history Greed Luke 18:22, 1 Ti. 6:10, James 5:1-6 Thousands of children die every day from malnutrition and diseases while the rich get richer Homosexuality Rom. 1:26-27, 1 Cor. 6:9 Perversion is destroying the marriage covenant and the family unit Pollution Rev. 11:18 Smog is filling the air, chemicals are poisoning our food and water supplies Not worshipping on Saturday ? ? Adventists seem to spend a lot of time harping on the great "sin" of Sabbath-breaking, but it does not appear to have caught the attention of the authors of the New Testament. Adventists want us to believe that Sunday-keeping is the one heinous sin above all others that identifies someone who is disloyal to God. What about Genocide? Murder? Rape? Child abuse? Greed? Persecution? Blasphemy? Witchcraft? Those sins do not even make it onto the Adventist list. According to Adventists, the Mark of the Beast is Sunday-keeping: "Sunday-keeping must be the mark of the beast." ... "The reception of his mark must be something that involves the greatest offense that can be committed against God." (The Marvel of Nations, Uriah Smith pp. 170, 183) "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast." (Advent Review, Vol. I, No. 2, August, 1850.) "The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish church." ... "The keeping of the counterfeit Sabbath is the reception of the mark." (Great Controversy, p. 281.) "The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation. . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this--the observance of the first day of the week." (Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117) "The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath." (Evangelism, p. 234) "What Is the Mark of the Beast?--John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast. (Ellen White, Letter 31, 1898) "When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday." (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 980) 5. The whole teaching of Adventists regarding the Mark of the Beast centers on Revelation 14:12 which says that those who have the "commandments of God" do not receive the mark. Adventists claim that this passage is referring to the Ten Commandments, and Sunday-keepers cannot be keeping the Ten Commandments because the fourth commandment instructs worship on Saturday. The Greek word for "commandments" in Rev. 14:12 is entole which means "an order, command, charge, precept, injunction."5 The same word is used repeatedly in the writings of John to refer to the instructions of Christ. John uses an entirely different Greek word when he refers to the Ten Commandments in his writings--nomas: Did not Moses give you the law {nomos}, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law {nomos}? Why go ye about to kill me? (John 7:19; Jesus is refering to the 6th commandment "Thou shalt not kill"--Ex. 20:13) The number one commandment of Jesus to the Apostles was not Sabbath-worship, but for them to love one another: A new commandment {entolae} I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34) This is my commandment {entolae}, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Notice how John uses the word "commandment" in these verses: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments {entolas}. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments {entolas}; and His commandments {entolae} are not burdensome. (1 John 5:2-3) In the same letter John tells us exactly what the "commandments" are: "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments {entolas} and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment {entolae}, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded {entolaen} us. The one who keeps His commandments {entolas} abides in Him,..." (1 John 3:22-24) From this we can see that in John's writings the "commandments" of God are: To believe in Jesus Christ To love one another

Bible Truth about the Mark of the Beast 1. Who is the Beast? - In Christianity there are myriads of differing interpretations as to who the "beast" and the "image to the beast" are in the book of Revelation. It is beyond the scope of this study to try and decipher the exact meanings of these symbols. However, one thing is agreed upon by all Christians: the "beast" is an evil power that opposes God. In the book of Revelation there is a war between those who have the Seal of God and those who have the Mark of the Beast. We have already learned in study #7 that the Seal of God is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, those who have the Mark of the Beast are those who do not have the Holy Spirit. By determining what the fruits or evidences of the Holy Spirit are, we can easily see the attributes of those who have the Spirit of God (the Seal of God) and those who are devoid of the Spirit (Mark of the Beast): Fruits of the Holy Spirit (those who have Seal of God) (Gal. 5:22-23) Works of the Flesh (those who have Mark of the Beast) (Gal. 5:19-21) Love Adultery and Fornication Joy Uncleanness and Lasciviousness Peace Idolatry Longsuffering Witchcraft Gentleness Hatred and Variance Goodness Emulations and Wrath Faith Strife and Seditions Meekness Heresies, Envyings and Murders Temperence Drunkenness and Revellings 2. How do you tell a true Christian? Even Adventists will admit you cannot tell who is a true Christian in their heart by what day they worship on. True Christianity is defined by those who have the Spirit of Christ in them. This Spirit is manifest by the fruits of the Spirit (mentioned above) and evidenced by good deeds: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16 NIV) Jesus told a parable in Matthew 24:31-46 about how He is going to decide who goes to Heaven and who does not. The "sheep" who go to heaven are those who are feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and helping the homeless. The "goats" are those who do not. It is as simple as that. Jesus had the perfect opportunity in this parable to instruct His disciples that the deciding factor about who goes to Heaven is determined by whether or not a person keeps Saturday holy. He did not. Instead, He pointed them to the real difference. True Christians serve others because they have Jesus living in their hearts. False Christians live to serve themselves. Christianity is not about a holy day. It is about "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). Conclusion Not once in the New Testament is Sunday ever referred to as the Mark of the Beast. Jesus and His Apostles emphasized that true Christianity is a matter of the heart. It is internal development of the character of Christ, not the externalized obedience to Old Testament laws or rituals that makes a person righteous. Christianity emphasized faith, hope, love, and self-control, not the ritualistic observance of days or dietary restrictions.

Your Questions about the Mark of the Beast QUESTION: ANSWER:

Links for Deeper Study about the Mark of the Beast National Sunday Law Details the origin of the SDA National Sunday Law and why it will never happen. By Brother Anderson. What is the Mark of the Beast? by Robert Sanders

 

1. Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 167, Review and Herald (1989).

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Strong's.