The mark of the man/beast

[StewardoftheMystery]

I am going to spend some time explaining by scripture what the mark, name, and number of the man/beast truly is. It is important that one use scripture to confirm all these truths, as I will do in my following threads and posts. First let’s explore what the mark of the man/beast is by first looking at the color red shown in scripture.

In Revelation 12:3 we read “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” The great red dragon in this verse is a symbolism of Satan, the Devil, or the Old Serpent as he has many names. But you ever wonder why he is shown as red? I believe it is because God gave us a clue so we might better understand the nature of the man/beast, which by the way is also shown as red (or scarlet).

Revelation 17:3; “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Again the color is a clue to figure out the nature and mark of the beast, which is also the nature found in the firstborn man, Adam

Adam being the first man to have iniquity found in him is also a sign of this very thing; just as the name of Adam means earthly, red. To confirm this sign we are also given a clue in Esau, who was also the firstborn. Genesis 25:25; “And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.” Who also by the way sold his birthright and inheritance over some red pottage, which is symbolic of sin Genesis 25:30; “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.” ( Edom means red, earthly, of blood.)

More insight into the sign of the firstborn Esau is also shown here in Romans 9:13; “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Why was this statement made by the Lord? If you back up to verse 8 we see the meaning in Romans 9:8; “That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

So now we begin to see the firstborn nature of man is flesh, or carnally minded like natural brute beasts. Jesus confirms this truth here in John 3:6; “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” If you look up the Bible usage of that word "flesh" in the above, you will find that it is the sensuous nature of man, or the "animal nature" working in man. The word flesh also denotes the earthly nature of man apart from the divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God. This speaks of the enmity between the flesh and the Spirit of God. And is also shown here 1 Corinthians 15:46; “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”

The difference between the flesh (carnally minded man) and the Spirit (spiritually minded man) also shows the difference between the nature of the serpents seed and the womans seed; and is also why the firstborn man, like as shown in Ishmael, persecutes those who are born again of God’s Holy Spirit. Galatians 4:29; “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the
Spirit, even so it is now.” Even as Cain the firstborn son of Adam killed his righteous brother Abel and then received a “mark.” This is the first example of sin being symbolized as a mark from God.

In this we also see the firstborn nature of man has a different spirit working in him than that of God’s heavenly Spirit. Just as the Lord said in Genesis 6:3 “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:”

This spirit in the firstborn carnally minded man is earthly, lustful and is also of this world; which is also the same spirit of the Red Dragon, or prince of this world. We see the red dragon empowers the scarlet beast which comes up out of the sea. Revelation 13:2; “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Revelation 13:4; “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

If we worship our heavenly Father and His Lamb in the Spirit of Truth and in righteousness; then how do you suppose the firstborn man worships the red dragon and the scarlet beast? It would be the opposite, because darkness is the opposite of Light, the lie is the opposite of the Truth, Death is the opposite of Life, and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So by serving sin, mankind worships the red Dragon and scarlet colored beast.

And perhaps in better understanding these spiritual things, it will also help one to understand the mark of the beast, and also the image of the beast they truly worship through the lusts of their own flesh.

So some still might be wondering what is that red mark shown in the firstborn man of sin, and the red dragon, and the scarlet colored beast?

The answer is found right here in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Here is more proof that sin is called a mark in scripture....

It is written in Job 7:20 “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?”

Job 10:14 “If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity." Psalm 130:3 If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? And it is written in Jeremiah 2:22 "For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me,saith the Lord." We are told by God, that it is sin that separates us from His presence.
I am going to post other threads on the name, number, and image of the man/beast in the future, Lord willing.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

The mark of sin is also symbolized in the law by the animals that were not to be offered up to the Lord, and the nature of the unclean beasts. If you want to know the difference between the clean and unclean beasts, you need to learn of their nature. Just as the Holy Spirit was shown to John as a dove, and Jesus was symbolized as the Lamb of God. The Lord said in the law that those animals that were to be offered up were to be without spot or blemish, or any evilfavoredness. Even men with any blemishes were not allowed to come near to the altar of the Lord to profane it. These physical
blemishes were really symbolizing spiritual blemishes in man. God often uses things in nature and natural things to symbolize spiritual truths, and the animal sacrifices were to symbolize the sacrifices to be made by Gods people. Just as we are told to present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and without spot or blemish. Paul talked about the offering up of the Gentiles, like a priest who was making offerings on the altar of sacrifice. Even Paul himself said he was ready to be offered up in 2 Timothy 4:6. So when you have been given eyes to see the spiritual things of God, there is more to the law of Moses than meets the natural eye. I will post some verses about the spot and blemish of sin to confirm this message in just a little bit.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
1 Timothy 6:14
That thou keep this commandment withoutspot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Jude 1:12
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

So we see in the above examples that being without spot or blemish is speaking of a spiritual blemish, and that spiritual blemish is sin.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

There are 2 spiritual marks, or spots shown in scripture. Gods mark in the forehead is the seal of righteousness, for those who are sealed by Gods Holy Spirit.

But the wicked are marked by sin. Below the 2 spots are mentioned in
Deuteronomy 32:5
They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.”

Wickedness and righteousness are shown like being upon a person here in
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Here is another way to prove that the mark of the beast is sin. Notice below it says in
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

And here in
Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

So how do you get your name blotted out of Gods book of life? The answer is shown here in
Exodus 32:33
And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”

This confirms the message above, it is sin that causes one to be blotted out of Gods book of life. It is sin that causes one to be cast into the lake of fire.

So hopefully many will now see the importance of having your sins forgiven, and being made free from future sin by the power of the cross and the power of Gods grace found in Jesus Christ.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

It is important to understand the difference between the 2 different marks. The mark of sin in the forehead, or the mark of Righteousness in the forehead. I speak of 2 different natures and of 2 different mindsets. This depends on if you are yet in the flesh, or if you have been born again of the Spirit of God.

We are all firstborn of the flesh, and also have a sin nature working in us because of Adams original sin. Romans 5:12“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
This is how the serpent corrupted God’s image in Adam by corrupting the ways of man to follow after the serpent’s desire. Genesis 4:7 “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
This desire of the serpent is to serve the lusts of the flesh, and those who are of his spirit think like their father the Devil; or have the mind of the flesh (carnally minded) being earthly, sensual, and devilish.

But those who are of God the Fathers seed (womans seed) do mind the things of the Spirit of God, or do God’s will, or desire. The 2 seeds of flesh and Spirit are first shown here. Genesis 3:14-15 “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (“it” is the spirit of a lie)

This enmity between Gods Spirit (Spirit of Truth) and the spirit working in the world and also in the firstborn man who is flesh is shown here. Genesis 6:3 “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” But Jesus Christ came to destroy the body of sin and the works of the Devil. And to remove that enmity, or the spirit of the fleshy or carnal mind in man, and also give man a new Spirit and new mind in order to serve Gods will.

Because these 2 minds (flesh/ Spirit) are contrary to one another, just as the natural man has a mind of the flesh (carnally minded) and cannot understand the spiritual things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The only way to resolve this issue of being carnally minded, and of that wicked seed and generation is to be born again and made a new man in Christ. Jesus said in John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Now pay close attention to what Jesus says here in John 3:3 “ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This means the man who is not born again of the Spirit will not see, perceive, or understand the many mysteries of the kingdom spoken of in the law and prophets. The reason being is the kingdom of God does not dwell in Him by way of the Holy Ghost.(Spirit of Truth) Jesus said in Mark 4:11 “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”

This is why the world, and even those Christians who are still yet carnal cannot see or hear the many mysteries spoken by the Spirit of God in the law and prophets. And these 2 seeds, and these 2 mind
sets, or ways of thinking strive against one another.
This is why those who are of the world, and of the flesh, hate those who are of the Spirit. Galatians 4:29 “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” This persecution was first shown in the firstborn Cain killing Abel; notice Cain was of that Wicked seed in 1 John 3:12“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”
This is the wicked and adulterous generation Jesus was talking about in Matthew 16:4 and also in Matthew 12:45. And because they are of the serpents seed both John the Baptist and Jesus referred to them as a generation of vipers, and serpents in Matthew 23:33“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” These are those who are yet in the flesh, and do the lusts of their father the devil, they are the seed of evil doers.

This whole wicked world is under this corrupt condition 1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
And the only remedy for this condition is either destruction, or for a person to come to the cross of Christ and be born again by faith in God’s spiritual seed of promise, and be made a new creature in Christ by His Holy Spirit. Then and only then will the covering vail of the flesh be removed from your mind, and your eyes will be anointed so that they can see the Kingdom of God that is within you.

The first nature working in mankind is sinful, is of the world, earthly, naturally minded, or carnally minded, and walks after the ways of the world. (lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and pride of life)
John said in John 3:31 “..: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: ..” He speaks of the earth because that is all he knows naturally, like a natural brute beast.

The first man is natural as it is written in 1 Corinthians 15:45-48 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”

Our first man is carnally minded, but our new man in Christ is spiritually minded.
Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
Jesus came to remove that enmity….

Ephesians 2:15 “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

We can better come to understand that the mark of the beast is inward and is spiritual (in the heart and mind) by comparing spiritual things with spiritual as this is how the Holy Spirit teaches us; as is also
written.
Notice the description below of the mark of the beast is described in the same manner as God's mark, or God's seal of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 13:16
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:

Now compare the wording above to God's mark, or seal, which is of His Holy Spirit....

Descriptions of God's seal (or mark) by the Spirit.....

Ezekiel 9:4
And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Revelation 9:4
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 22:4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Proof that God's seal (mark) and name written in the forehead is spiritual.....

2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

So by comparing God's seal (mark) we should know and understand that the beasts mark is also spiritual, which is from the spirit of the god of this world; their father the Devil working in the hearts and minds (in the forehead) of the children of disobedience. It is written in Deut. 32:5 "They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation."

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Alright, now I am going to move on to the meaning of the number as it relates to the man / beast.

In Genesis 1:24-31 the Lord brought forth from the earth both man and beast on the sixth day. Hebrew letters have a numerical value, and in Hebrew gematria the sixth day has a numerical value of 666….. שִׁשִּׁי = sixth= 610 יוֹם= day=56 total= 666

Also the Lord said in Genesis 6:3 “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” The number of a man’s days in that verse, or hundred twenty years, and in Hebrew gematria is also = 666

מֵאָה = hundred=46 and עֶשְׂרִים =twenty = 620 for a total of 666

What is also interesting in that verse is that Moses was 120 years old when he died. Deuteronomy 34:7 “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.”

Now what is also interesting about this is the Devil disputed over the body of Moses, shown in Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

And now listen to Paul’s words concerning death reigning from Adam to Moses….Romans 5:14 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

We know the first man Adam was a type for Jesus who was to come, but I believe Paul mentioned Moses in there as well as a type because of how the Devil was disputing about the body of Moses, just as Jesus’ body did not see corruption. This is a great mystery concerning the body of Moses, as we do not have much to go on other than the testimony from Jude, but the phrase death reigning will give us the clue we need to understand the name we are to get victory over by faith in Jesus Christ.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Now I would like to share with you what I believe the Lord has revealed to me by His Spirit concerning the name we are also to get victory over. Notice in Revelation 15:2 “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

Keep in mind there is like an opposite reflection shown in the unholy triune as opposed to the Holy. Just as it is written the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As in Adam all die, but in Christ all are made alive. And if we are given victory over sin by faith in Jesus Christ, we also are given victory over death. The word victory in the above was the clue that confirmed to me the name that we are to get victory over, which is Death.

It is written in Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” We are shown Death and Destruction as personified in Job 28:22 “Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.” Strong's Number H11 Destruction matches the Hebrew אֲבַדּוֹן ('abaddown), Abaddon

And even Destruction is shown as having a name in Revelation 9:11 “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

And Death is shown as having a name here in Revelation 6:8 “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him…..” Jesus also mentions 2 names in Revelation 3:1 when he says " thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

Paul referred to our first corruptible bodies as the bodies of this death….Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? And also our bodies as being dead because of sin in Romans 8:10

And that is what Jesus came to deliver us from, the bondage of sin and the captivity by which we were held by the power of death. Hebrews 2:14 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” And Jesus was also to destroy the body of sin in us Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

It is written in Hosea 13:14 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sin and death have been reigning in this world…..

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Romans 5:21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

And in the beginning we see how the Old Serpent began the power of his reign (rule) over mankind.

Genesis 4:7 “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
So all men are determined to die once…Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” But we who overcome by the faith of Jesus Christ will be given victory over Death, and will not taste of the second death being of the first resurrection as shown in Luke 20:36 “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”
Confirmed here….

Revelation 2:11 “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.”

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Revelation 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

So you either have a name written in the book of Life that you are “Alive” forevermore in Christ and in righteousness, or you have a name that you are still dead in your sins.

And the last enemy to be destroyed is Death. 1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Now let’s move on to the image of the man/beast that is worshipped by the whole world. This worshipping the image of the first beast (serpent) is done by doing the will, or lusts of the Devil by way of his spirit working in them. As the true worshippers of God worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, and by doing the will of our Father in heaven. It is written, those who commit sin are of the Devil, just as we are servants to whom we obey, whether you serve sin unto death or righteousness unto Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul said of mankind in Romans 1:22-23 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

To understand how man stopped worshipping God’s invisible image in himself, and started worshipping the Devils image we must first go back again to the beginning of creation.

In the very beginning man was created in Gods own image, as it is also written. But understanding what that image means, and how man defiled that perfect image of God in himself is all important. It is written that no man has ever seen the face of God, as it is also written God is invisible and that God is Spirit. But Jesus Christ is the express inward image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15; “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”


So was God's invisible image a visible outward image, or was it the invisible inward image of God, which God created in man, which is after God’s own heart? Hopefully you will come to see it is the invisible inward image of God that man was first created in, but was also later corrupted in man because of sin. And so when sin entered into man he took on the image of the earthly, and put to death in himself the image of the heavenly made in the likeness of the Lamb of God. I believe this also explains the meaning of the scripture that says “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Jesus said be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. And as the scriptures show man was first created perfect (in Gods own image) in the day God created man. Ezekiel 28:15; “Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Just as God’s works and ways are also perfect.

In this we see Adam was first created in the Gods own inward image (in His ways); that was until sin entered into Adam. And so at that point in time man began to take on the image of the man of sin, fashioned after the Prince of this world, who is like a natural brute beast, and who also does the lusts of his father the devil. Keep in mind it is written the serpent was the most cunning beast God had made.

So if mankind has fallen from the image of our heavenly Father, and taken on the image of the earthly father, how can we then return back to that perfect Godly image? It is only possible by being born again of Gods Holy Spirit, and be renewed and transformed from our old man of sin image back into the image
of God’s blessed Son Jesus Christ (who is the express inward image of God) as is shown in Hebrews 1:3.

And here are some verses on the image of God and that inward transformation by the Spirit of Christ…..

Colossians 3:10; “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
Ephesians 4:23-24 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” And here in Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

So when we are made a new man in Christ, does our outward visible image change, or is our invisible inward image renewed into the image of our God through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Of course it is our inward image (heart and mind) that is changed. But even still the gospel of Jesus Christ is still hid from most of the world who worship the Red Dragon and scarlet colored beast because of the covering spirit of the Devil has blinded them. They worship the Red Dragon by serving sin.

2 Corinthians 4:4; “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
So we know by scripture that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, and He condemned sin in the flesh.

Jesus came to take away the sins of the world, destroy him who had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), and also destroy our old man of sin image in us(Romans 6:6) by us putting to death the deeds of the flesh and being raised up a new man, made in the righteous image of Jesus Christ by the power of God.

But Jesus and the apostles also told us that there would come a falling away from the faith, and that old man of sin, and that first Adam nature would return in many and be embraced once again; and how the last state of that man would be worse than his first state; this is the mystery of iniquity.

And by the preaching of many false prophets and deceivers this false doctrine would be embraced by many religions in the world. And this is what we see In Revelation 13:15 we read; “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Sin is self-serving, and if you are serving self, then you are worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator; as Paul said. And of all the deaf, dumb, and blind idol images in the world, man worshipping himself is the only idol image that is alive and can speak.
We are told in Revelation 13:8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
This is another way to prove what the mark of the beast is; in Exodus 32:33 The Lord said to Moses that whosoever sins against Me, him will I blot out of my book." So again, it is sin that causes you to be blotted out of Gods book of Life. And it is written in Revelation20:15 That whosoever was not found
written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Again, all who live in ongoing sin worship the Devil, and only those who have passed from death to Life by being born again of God’s Spirit have their names written in Lambs the book of Life.

And so who is shown in scripture that persecutes and kills God’s children who are born of His Spirit? Again, if you go back to the beginning we see this enmity between the children of the flesh vs. the children of the Spirit in Cain and Abel. 1 John 3:12 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”

Paul confirms this hatred by the firstborn man, who is born of the flesh in the allegory of the 2 sons, Ishmael and Isaac when he said in Galatians 4:29 “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”

So basically those who are of sealed of God’s Spirit will overcome the world, and overcome that wicked one, overcome self, and overcome sin and death by the faith of Jesus Christ and by the power of God.

But like Jesus said, if the world hates you, know that it hated me first. So those who are of the world, and are of the spirit of the world, and who are firstborn of the flesh, will also hate the children of God who are born of His Spirit.

 

[Bill]

I am going to spend some time explaining by scripture what the mark, name, and number of the man/beast truly is. It is important that one use scripture to confirm all these truths, as I will do in my following threads and posts. First let’s explore what the mark of the man/beast is by first looking at the color red shown in scripture.

In Revelation 12:3 we read “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” The great red dragon in this verse is a symbolism of Satan, the Devil, or the Old Serpent as he has many names. But you ever wonder why he is shown as red? I believe it is because God gave us a clue so we might better understand the nature of the man/beast, which by the way is also shown as red (or scarlet).

Revelation 17:3; “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Again the color is a clue to figure out the nature and mark of the beast, which is also the nature found in the firstborn man, Adam

Adam being the first man to have iniquity found in him is also a sign of this very thing; just as the name of Adam means earthly, red. To confirm this sign we are also given a clue in Esau, who was also the firstborn. Genesis 25:25; “And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.” Who also by the way sold his birthright and inheritance over some red pottage, which is symbolic of sin Genesis 25:30; “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.” ( Edom means red, earthly, of blood.)

More insight into the sign of the firstborn Esau is also shown here in Romans 9:13; “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Why was this statement made by the Lord? If you back up to verse 8 we see the meaning in Romans 9:8; “That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

So now we begin to see the firstborn nature of man is flesh, or carnally minded like natural brute beasts. Jesus confirms this truth here in John 3:6; “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” If you look up the Bible usage of that word "flesh" in the above, you will find that it is the sensuous nature of man, or the "animal nature" working in man. The word flesh also denotes the earthly nature of man apart from the divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God. This speaks of the enmity between the flesh and the Spirit of God. And is also shown here 1 Corinthians 15:46; “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”

The difference between the flesh (carnally minded man) and the Spirit (spiritually minded man) also shows the difference between the nature of the serpents seed and the womans seed; and is also why the firstborn man, like as shown in Ishmael, persecutes those who are born again of God’s Holy Spirit. Galatians 4:29; “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the
Spirit, even so it is now.” Even as Cain the firstborn son of Adam killed his righteous brother Abel and then received a “mark.” This is the first example of sin being symbolized as a mark from God.

In this we also see the firstborn nature of man has a different spirit working in him than that of God’s heavenly Spirit. Just as the Lord said in Genesis 6:3 “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:”

This spirit in the firstborn carnally minded man is earthly, lustful and is also of this world; which is also the same spirit of the Red Dragon, or prince of this world. We see the red dragon empowers the scarlet beast which comes up out of the sea. Revelation 13:2; “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Revelation 13:4; “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

If we worship our heavenly Father and His Lamb in the Spirit of Truth and in righteousness; then how do you suppose the firstborn man worships the red dragon and the scarlet beast? It would be the opposite, because darkness is the opposite of Light, the lie is the opposite of the Truth, Death is the opposite of Life, and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So by serving sin, mankind worships the red Dragon and scarlet colored beast.

And perhaps in better understanding these spiritual things, it will also help one to understand the mark of the beast, and also the image of the beast they truly worship through the lusts of their own flesh.

So some still might be wondering what is that red mark shown in the firstborn man of sin, and the red dragon, and the scarlet colored beast?

The answer is found right here in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Here is more proof that sin is called a mark in scripture....

It is written in Job 7:20 “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?”

Job 10:14 “If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity." Psalm 130:3 If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? And it is written in Jeremiah 2:22 "For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me,saith the Lord." We are told by God, that it is sin that separates us from His presence.
I am going to post other threads on the name, number, and image of the man/beast in the future, Lord willing.

I read it all , but have not seen a conclusion yet

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

And now we move on to the buying and selling aspects of the mark of sin. I believe this buying and selling can be shown 2 different ways.

The first is being sold like slaves or servants under sin....


In Romans 7:14 we read “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” You ever wonder why Paul used that phrase “sold under sin?” Well I believe Paul used the phrase to give us a clue and insight into what the mark of the beast represents in Revelation, and how all those who have it also buy and sell souls, even selling out their own soul in a spiritual sense. Much like masters and merchants who also sold servants in the slave trade days, these were also bought and sold being under bondage.

As a matter of fact in Revelation18:13 we see the merchants of the earth were selling slaves, and souls of men. But in the spiritual sense these servants are slaves to sin, and are also in bondage to the ways of the world, much like the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Paul mentions this bondage in Romans 8:23 as bringing one into captivity to the law of sin, speaking of the flesh. Just as our first man (Adam) is flesh, and is sold under sin when iniquity entered into man and into the world.

So those who sin, are in fact servants of sin and are also in captivity, or in bondage in this wicked world. But Jesus makes us free from sin, as it is also written He led captivity captive in Psalm 68:18. Now this concept of being a servant to sin and exchanging ones soul for sin is not foreign to scripture. Even Esau sold his firstborn birthright to serve his own belly for some red pottage, which is also symbolism of sin.

Jesus also said in Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” So again you see these servants of sin are willing to sell themselves out for sin, or give up the possession of their souls for sin. Jesus said John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.”

Just as it is written in 1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil;…” And by your master, according to whom you serve you are also marked, just as Cain was marked because of sin. Also in Job 7:20 “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?” Job 10:14 “If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.” Psalm 130:3 If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Jeremiah 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord.

So as Jesus said whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin, and a servant of sin abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” There is an interesting sign given to us in Exodus chapter 21 and Deuteronomy 15 where a Hebrew servant was to be set free after serving 6 years, in the 7th year they were to be set free. But the servant that did not desire to be set free was to be “marked” at the door, even at the door post before the judges. His master would mark him in the ear, and the servant would be the masters forever.

But the sign of God's mark or seal is also shown with the blood of the Passover Lamb being placed on the door posts of one's house to keep the spirit of death, even the Destroyer from entering in. And so who died in Egypt that did not have the blood of the Lamb for protection? It was the firstborn of man and beast.

And another sign of the Lord marking his anointed priesthood was also signified in the blood of consecration upon the right ear of his anointed. So depending on whomever one served they were to be marked or sealed, just as these symbolisms above were just shadows of the true spiritual marks.

Just as the Lords seal placed on his servants is that of the Holy Spirit, but those who are in bondage to sin are also marked in the forehead by the spirit of this world, even by the spirit of that Wicked Prince of this world.
And so by your words and actions you show forth the fruits of whom you serve. As Paul said in Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But Jesus said to those who believed on Him in John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus came to set you free from the bondage of this evil world and sin, and to destroy the works of the Devil in your life. And those who the Lord has purchased with his own blood needs to keep himself from all evil, and possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Jesus said we would be hated of all men for His names sake, and some of us shall they cause to be put to death, but in your patience you possess your souls.

But those who receive the mark of the beast by ongoing sin, have sold themselves out by playing the harlot with the ways of this world. God said those who sin against Him have wronged their own souls.

Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

 

[Bill]

And now we move on to the buying and selling aspects of the mark of sin. I believe this buying and selling can be shown 2 different ways.

The first is being sold like slaves or servants under sin....


In Romans 7:14 we read “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” You ever wonder why Paul used that phrase “sold under sin?” Well I believe Paul used the phrase to give us a clue and insight into what the mark of the beast represents in Revelation, and how all those who have it also buy and sell souls, even selling out their own soul in a spiritual sense. Much like masters and merchants who also sold servants in the slave trade days, these were also bought and sold being under bondage.

As a matter of fact in Revelation18:13 we see the merchants of the earth were selling slaves, and souls of men. But in the spiritual sense these servants are slaves to sin, and are also in bondage to the ways of the world, much like the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Paul mentions this bondage in Romans 8:23 as bringing one into captivity to the law of sin, speaking of the flesh. Just as our first man (Adam) is flesh, and is sold under sin when iniquity entered into man and into the world.

So those who sin, are in fact servants of sin and are also in captivity, or in bondage in this wicked world. But Jesus makes us free from sin, as it is also written He led captivity captive in Psalm 68:18. Now this concept of being a servant to sin and exchanging ones soul for sin is not foreign to scripture. Even Esau sold his firstborn birthright to serve his own belly for some red pottage, which is also symbolism of sin.

Jesus also said in Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” So again you see these servants of sin are willing to sell themselves out for sin, or give up the possession of their souls for sin. Jesus said John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.”

Just as it is written in 1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil;…” And by your master, according to whom you serve you are also marked, just as Cain was marked because of sin. Also in Job 7:20 “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?” Job 10:14 “If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.” Psalm 130:3 If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Jeremiah 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord.

So as Jesus said whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin, and a servant of sin abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” There is an interesting sign given to us in Exodus chapter 21 and Deuteronomy 15 where a Hebrew servant was to be set free after serving 6 years, in the 7th year they were to be set free. But the servant that did not desire to be set free was to be “marked” at the door, even at the door post before the judges. His master would mark him in the ear, and the servant would be the masters forever.

But the sign of God's mark or seal is also shown with the blood of the Passover Lamb being placed on the door posts of one's house to keep the spirit of death, even the Destroyer from entering in. And so who died in Egypt that did not have the blood of the Lamb for protection? It was the firstborn of man and beast.

And another sign of the Lord marking his anointed priesthood was also signified in the blood of consecration upon the right ear of his anointed. So depending on whomever one served they were to be marked or sealed, just as these symbolisms above were just shadows of the true spiritual marks.

Just as the Lords seal placed on his servants is that of the Holy Spirit, but those who are in bondage to sin are also marked in the forehead by the spirit of this world, even by the spirit of that Wicked Prince of this world.
And so by your words and actions you show forth the fruits of whom you serve. As Paul said in Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But Jesus said to those who believed on Him in John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus came to set you free from the bondage of this evil world and sin, and to destroy the works of the Devil in your life. And those who the Lord has purchased with his own blood needs to keep himself from all evil, and possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Jesus said we would be hated of all men for His names sake, and some of us shall they cause to be put to death, but in your patience you possess your souls.

But those who receive the mark of the beast by ongoing sin, have sold themselves out by playing the harlot with the ways of this world. God said those who sin against Him have wronged their own souls.

Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

The writings of John came after the writings of Paul . How would Paul know what John wrote to give clues ?

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

I read it all , but have not seen a conclusion yet

The conclusion is, we are marked according to whom we serve. Either you serve the Devil by serving sin, or you serve God by serving righteousness.

 

[Bill]

The conclusion is, we are marked according to whom we serve. Either you serve the Devil by serving sin, or you serve God by serving righteousness.

Is righteousness the only thing that "marks" us as serving God . Because there are people who do not know God, yet walk in righteousness?

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

The writings of John came after the writings of Paul . How would Paul know what John wrote to give clues ?

Don’t believe everything you hear about when John received the Revelation. I believe Paul talked to John, and spoke of John’s revelation here in

2 Corinthians 12:2-5​

​

King James Version​

​

​

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.”

The unspeakable words Paul is talking about is the words John heard when the 7 thunders uttered their voices shown here….
Revelation 10:4
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thundersuttered, and write them not.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

Is righteousness the only thing that "marks" us as serving God . Because there are people who do not know God, yet walk in righteousness?

I covered that in the above study, it is Gods seal of the Holy Spirit that is Gods mark of righteousness.

 

[Bill]

I covered that in the above study, it is Gods seal of the Holy Spirit that is Gods mark of righteousness.

You are taking a wild guess on something that can not be confirmed . Not by the standards of anyone here . Im talking about John and Paul

 

[Bill]

I covered that in the above study, it is Gods seal of the Holy Spirit that is Gods mark of righteousness.

You did not cover those who walk in righteousness and dont know God

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

You are taking a wild guess on something that can not be confirmed . Not by the standards of anyone here . Im talking about John and Paul

I confirmed it by the words of Paul and John, so no, it is not a wild guess. Here it is again.

Corinthians 12:2-5​

King James Version​

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.”

The unspeakable words Paul is talking about is the words John heard when the 7 thunders uttered their voices shown here….
Revelation 10:4
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.