The Mark of the Beast; Coming Soon to a Church Near You: How Your Pastor, Like the Serpent in Eden, Will Entice You to Get What God Forbids

© Copyright 2016 Martin Miranda.

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KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-7480-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-7479-4 (e)

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Contents

Introduction

How are we saved?

- A conversation with God

The real character of our God

An Unfair Judge

The apostate church (the one that Jesus left on earth)

The mystery of iniquity

How to identify the antichrist

The word Sabbath in different languages

The Meaning of the word SABBATH

Dies Domini

Sunday in the Bible

Names sum

Titles that add to 666

A new world order

Economical changes

Who is the winner in all this?

Church and state

Church and State in USA after World War II

Ecumenism

Ecumenisn – the movement to unify all the faiths

The wine (doctrines) of Babylon:

Did Jesus descend to hell?

Mary the intercessor and the teaching that the saints listen to our prayers

Who is Michael?

Fish Friday

Lent

Easter

The mass

Transubstantiation

Purgatory

Tradition

Confession to the priest

Sacraments

Baptism, by aspersion or sprinkling?

Marriage annulment

Peter - the first pope?

The Papacy

Infallibility?

Impurity abounds

Superstition

Changing theology

The Inquisition

Oath of the Knights of Columbus

More on the Inquisition

Protestants’ blood

Spiritism and the union of the churches

Emphasis on the Holy Spirit

Philosophy

The wound is being healed

A global court

The poor victim

Protestants extend the hand to the papacy

Is truth important?

They admit the truth

The Law of God

The wolf is starting to wear a custom to trap the sheep

The Jesuits

Our only safeguard

Obedience or legalism?

Does it really matter which day we keep?

How to keep the Sabbath Holy

An invitation

Appendix

La Monita Secreta (Latin)

Recommended Reading

Those who guide these people lead them astray. Those who are guided by them will be destroyed Isaiah 9:16

INTRODUCTION

Since the book of Revelation was written, millions of sincere Christians have shown great interest in knowing the true interpretation of the passage registered in verses 16 to 18 of the 13th chapter of Revelation. It is said in that passage that a mark will be placed on the right hand or forehead of the inhabitants of the world. Due to erroneous interpretations, there are millions of people today that are very worried because they would not be able, according to the Scripture, to buy or sell unless they submit themselves to the authority inspired and directed by Satan.

We will abide by the principle of Scripture study that is outlined in the Bible itself: For precept must be upon precept,… line upon line,…. here a little, and there a little. (Isaiah 28:10,13). That means that we should compare one verse with others that discuss the same subject in order to reach the right conclusions. In this way, we will see how the Bible explains itself and that we don’t need any human being to teach us the truth. Let the Author of it, the Holy Spirit, illuminate your mind. Please, compare what you read here with your Bible. We should never accept teachings from anyone unless we come to the same conclusions by our own personal study of the Holy Scriptures. It doesn’t matter how much we love and trust our religious leaders. Do not believe anything that is not solidly based on the Bible. They could be as wrong as Saul of Tarsus before he met Jesus, rejecting the truth. On this, we need to learn from the Bereans: And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: whom coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:10,11). Who were the people preaching to them? Not less than the great apostle Paul and his friend Silas. Regardless of the source of their information, they still felt the need to compare it with the Scriptures to verify if they were being told the truth. Please, do the same with this writing (remove the dust from your Bible if you have to, but for the sake of your soul, check to see if these things are true).

It is the author’s purpose to analyze objectively these passages, allowing the Bible to clarify its meaning. It is not the purpose at all to offend, or to hurt anybody’s feelings. Rather, I want to teach the truth, in the hope that I can help some people grow in the knowledge of our compassionate God. I am not prejudiced against any religion, since I was raised Catholic, some of my friends are from different religions, and I preach to churches of different denominations. Please, read this study without prejudice.

It will be very wise to follow this counsel also: Do not read the Word in the light of former opinions; but, with a mind free from prejudice, search it carefully and prayerfully. If, as you read conviction comes, and you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions. Make your opinions fit the Word. Do not allow what you have believed or practiced in the past to control your understanding. Messages to Young People, p. 260.

Several years have been dedicated to the study of this subject, innumerable prayers have been sent to the throne of grace (I asked several people to pray for me, so the truths presented here would have enough honey), and hundreds of hours were spent in deep study of the Scripture, to ensure that only the truth is presented. Truth is not always pleasant, but remember that if you love Jesus, you will accept what He teaches and requires of his friends, because He only wants the best for you, as any loving parent would.

Referring to people that turned from truth to fables, the book Last Day Events says in page 237: If, after the Holy Spirit has brought conviction to their hearts, they resist the truth and use their influence to block the way so that others will not receive it, they will never be convinced. They did not seek for transformation of character in the time given them, and Christ will not give them opportunity to pass over the ground again. The decision is a final one.

My fear is that some reading this study will reject it for fear of what others may say. Don’t give peer pressure a chance where your salvation is concerned. In Jesus’ times there were spiritual bullies called the Pharisees (the ones that plotted to kill Jesus). Don’t forget that your friends did not buy your salvation. They did not go to the cross for you. Worldly prestige and false security provided by a salary can not equal the price He paid to redeem your soul. Trust Jesus, be faithful to Him no matter what, and He will take great and loving care of you (including your income and a better reputation in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity). May God give you light and love for it.

Why was this study written? It was written in obedience to the words found in James 5:19 and 20: My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. This is my wish: that people in error will come to the light and rejoice in it.

The preferred Bible version used here is the KJV. Others are also used. However, some verses are freely translated by the author to modern English for better understanding, on behalf of foreigners that are now learning this language. For those of you that believe that it has to be only the King James Version or none at all, I must remind you that the KJV is a translation and as such it is not perfect. I know this as a professional translator. No translation of any book is perfect and no Bible translation is either. In case that you did not know it, English was not a language yet when the Bible was first written. The original languages in which it was written are considered dead languages because they have evolved so much through the millennia. If you speak to a Greek or Jewish person today using the words from those days, he/she will not understand what you say at all, unless he/she studied the archaic Biblical languages. Some Bible terminology was not clearly understood until the 20th century when archaeologists unearthed documents and clay tablets that shed light on the meaning and usage of such words in their historic context.

When FBI employees are being trained to spot false currency, they spend a few days studying the real paper money. Some of them get a little impatient because they want to see the false $50.00 and $100.00 bills right away, but the trainers consider that they must get to carefully study the real money first and know it well. I find convenient then, to present the truth of how are we saved first and then we will discuss the teachings of the Beast.

HOW ARE WE SAVED?

- A CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Q: Lord, I am very happy with all the doctrines that I know. What do you think, haven’t I made great progress?

A: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Hebrews 5:12).

Q: Lord, How much should I pay you for the salvation of my soul?

A: They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption (Psalm 49:6-9).

Q: How many good works shall I do to be saved?

A: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Q: I always heard that you approve good works for salvation. What are the good works that you accept?

A: Jesus answered and said to them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent (John 6:29).

Q: I have a heavy burden For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalm 38:4).

A: Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Q: Do I have to confess my sins to a priest in order to be forgiven?

A: "I acknowledged my sin to thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (Psalm 32:5).

Q: Can I go directly to you, or there is a bureaucracy in heaven that makes it necessary to go to your mother first, or the apostles, so I can just obtain salvation from you?

A: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). There is no indication in any part of the Bible that says that we need somebody other than Jesus Himself to obtain forgiveness. Thanks God for that.

Q: I feel dirty because of my sins, would you receive me if I come home to you?

A: There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents (Luke.15:10).

In the Gospel of Luke, we find a passage that describes the reaction of the Father when we ask to be forgiven. A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that belongs to me. And he divided to them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in need. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: and no man gave to him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of your hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. But the Father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry [festive].’ (Luke 15:11-24). Notice how the Father does not wait for the prodigal son to come back home all the way before even considering forgiving him. He ran and came up to the ungrateful son. While this young man was taking care of the pigs, he probably fell more than once in the mud. After he wasted all his money, he was homeless. I am sure that he did not even take a shower in the way back home. He came back with a terrible smell, all sweaty, very filthy, but his wealthy father kissed him. Dirty or not, that was his beloved son and he was coming home. No wonder Paul calls Him the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (1 Corinthians 1:3).The son was planning to ask for a servant position after his confession, but the Father did not let him humiliate himself. He was too joyful to see him back at home, at last. Notice that it is not the son who gets dressed, which would indicate that he can obtain salvation through his own efforts. Rather, he is dressed at the orders of the Father (like in the case of Joshua, the high priest- see the section An Unfair Judge).

"We have access to God through the merits of the name of Christ, and God invites us to bring to Him our trials and temptations; for He understands them all. He would not have us pour out our woes to human ears. Through the blood of Christ we may come to the throne of grace and find grace to help in time of need. We may come with assurance, saying, ‘My acceptance is in the Beloved.’ ‘For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.’ ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him’ (Eph. 2:18; 3:12).

As an earthly parent encourages his child to come to him at all times, so the Lord encourages us to lay before Him our wants and perplexities, our gratitude and love. Every promise is sure. Jesus is our Surety and Mediator, and has placed at our command every resource, that we may have a perfect character In Heavenly Places, page 18.

THE REAL CHARACTER OF OUR GOD

Jesus indicated that the Father is not a being to be feared, but to be loved. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Our Savior never said if you fear me, keep my commandments, but rather His words were If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). God is anxious to receive us and to save us. God relates to us in a close, personal way: But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend (Isaiah 41:8).

First Corinthians 1:15 says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, of whom the Bible says that is love (1 John 4:8). When he was being arrested, he addressed Judas calling him friend (Matthew 26:50). It was prophesied in the Old Testament that when some people will see Jesus for the first time, they will ask Him: What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends (Zechariah 13:6). That is the same Savior that pronounced the most wonderful prayer for forgiveness: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Can you understand that love that makes Jesus call friends those that betrayed and crucified Him? I urge you to come to this merciful Savior while there is still time. Please, don’t delay your decision. Delaying it will be fatal. He will come soon looking for you, so don’t hurt the heart of the only real Friend that you have.

AN UNFAIR JUDGE

The Bible teaches that Jesus will come soon to judge both the dead and the living. The reason why this section was included is to help people understand that there is nothing to fear from the Judge of all souls, if He is our friend, if He is supreme in our hearts.

Receiving a court citation and being accused of a crime is not precisely what we could call good news. We never look forward to get one of those even if we have the assurance that we will be acquitted. It can happen that the judge that gets assigned to our case has a price and can be bought by our enemies. Then we can have our victory overturned in favor of our adversaries. Thousands of people have even been sent to prison for crimes that they have never committed. Many don’t survive the time assigned to serve, or don’t have the resources to appeal and get a second trial to prove their innocence.

The Bible says that all of us will stand before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10). In Hebrews 10:30 & 31 says that God will judge his people (see also 1Pet. 4:17), and adds It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Probably we share Job’s feelings when we read in chapter 9:20, 30 & 31:

Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty…. Even if I wash myself with soap and my hands with washing soda, you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.

And David adds:

Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you (Psalm 143:2).

The New Testament declares that Jesus is the judge (John 5:22). Would it be possible that his sufferings on the cross had quenched his love for us and he can turn into a terrible adversary in the judgment against us? Let’s consider some Bible passages that will expose a different angle:

Psalm 34:22: …No one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him

Psalm 76:9: When you, o God rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land (notice that the judgment is an act to save His people, not to condemn them, for only the wicked have to fear from God). In the Hebrew text, the words judge and save appear as synonyms.

Job 22:21-30: He will deliver even one who is not innocent… (who among us is innocent anyway?).

But the Bible goes on with the good news:

Job 17:3- He places bond in our favor.

Job 16:19-The Almighty will be the believer’s witness

1 John 2:1- Jesus is our Lawyer- Did anybody ever heard that he lost a case yet? He never did and never will lose the case of a soul entrusted to his care.

John 5:22 with Hebrews 4:16- Jesus is our judge and He encourages us to trust him, to approach his throne of grace with confidence.

Revelation 12:1- There is no prosecutor (accuser). He was driven away. In the past he was allowed to go to the portals of heaven and accuse the chosen ones (Zac.3: 1-5). Let’s read that passage: And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said to Satan, the LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

The filthy garments are a symbol of the iniquity, the sin in Joshua’s life. When the prodigal son came back home, the father ordered his servants to dress him with the best robe (Luke 15:22). That robe represents the character of Jesus, His righteousness (His perfect life) imputed (credited) to us. The people of God are presented in the Bible as dressed in white clothes, like fine linen. Talking to John the revelator, the angel explained: the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. The life of Jesus is the one examined in the judgment. His righteousness takes the place of our failures. My sins are removed from the records and instead, the Father sees the perfect life of Jesus (33 ½ years of spotless obedience to the will of God). When you accept Jesus’ services as your lawyer, it is not you who are judged; it is Jesus Himself, because his life takes the place of yours. This makes it possible for you to earn the right to the kingdom of heaven through the life of your Savior. This happens only by faith: