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MARK OF THE BEAST II Yesterday we discovered that by delving into the Latin texts we find that both the Vulgate Bible and Council of Trent used the Latin word, CHARACTEREM, to signify, (1) the MARK of the Beast [Rev. 13:16-17]; and (2) the indelible MARK or CHARACTER imprinted on the soul when receiving the three sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy orders. Thus, we have a direct link, by admission of the Roman Catholic Magisterium itself, with the Mark of the Beast and the Mark given in Roman Catholic sacraments. To further amplify the connection between the two, Scripture clearly describes the Mark of the Beast as being given in the forehead and/or right hand. In 'holy' baptism the adult catechumenate, for example, receives the Mark in this way: The priest/bishop makes the sign of the cross on the catechumenate's forehead with his right thumb, saying, "N., receive the cross on your forehead. By this sign of his love Christ will be your strength….." [Source: The Rites of the Catholic Church, Pueblo Pub., NY,1976]. Of course, it is through the sacrament of baptism that one is brought into the fold of holy Mother the Church, Mystery Babylon, the kingdom of the Beast. No one can enter his kingdom without the sacrament of 'holy' baptism, which mandates he Mark that person with the sign of the cross on their forehead. The Beast does not personally Mark everyone. His representatives, his body of false prophets, have been given special authority from him to that end, (see Rev. 13:12-14). See the Beast Mark a child's forehead using his right hand - http://www.iconbusters.com/iconbusters/works/works-photo10.htm
The tradition of Lent's Ash Wednesday is a visible example whereby we see those in the Beast's kingdom receiving his Mark. It is by the right hand of the one giving it that the Mark is received in the forehead of his subjects. In the sacrament of confirmation, the bishop anoints the forehead of the one to be confirmed with oil using his right thumb. In so doing, he says, "Accipe Signaculum Doni Spiritus Sancti." This phrase is literally translated into English as, "Receive the mark with the gift of the Holy Spirit." By using the Oxford Latin Dictionary, one discovers that the Latin word, "accipe," is derived from the word, "accipere," defined "to take what is offered or given; to receive willingly." The root of the word, "signaculum" is "signo," defined "to mark with any distinguishable sign." The one confirmed "receives the mark." The authoritative Douay-Rheims Bible translates Rev. 13:16-17 as: "16 And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a CHARACTER in their right hand, or on their foreheads. 17 And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the CHARACTER, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Thus, in the sacrament of confirmation we see a mark, CHARACTEREM, received on the forehead, in the sign of the cross, through the agency, power and authority of the bishop using his right hand. The bishop has himself received the indelible marks of baptism, confirmation and holy orders on his forehead in the sign of a cross. My question to the sincere Roman Catholic readership of this message board is, "What other religious organization on the face of planet earth utilizes, as a fundamental part of its religious rites and observances, a self-professed indelible MARK on the soul given in the forehead by the right hand of the priest?" Rand Winburn Director Protestant Reformation Publications
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