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MARK OF THE BEAST III In carefully studying the context of Rev. 13:16-17, we discover that the beast from the earth is a pseudo-Christian. He is Adamic in nature, unregenerate and dead in his sins. He is described as having two horns like a lamb, yet he speaks as a dragon. Christians are well familiar with Christ, the Lamb of God. Knowing that the symbol of the Lamb is universally understood by Christians, the Holy Spirit is declaring that, though this important leader claims to come in the name of Christ, his doctrine and Gospel is not from Christ, but from Satan. He is the enemy of Christ and true Christians. This proves the point that appearances can be deceiving. We would all do well to heed the admonition of St. John, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1). Let us not forget the words of Jesus to the same effect, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." (Matt. 24:4-5). When tempted by Satan, Jesus used only Scripture as His rule when answering the devil's demands. We, too, are to test the spirit of an alleged Christian leader by the rule of Scripture. In writing the Apocalypse through St. John, the Holy Spirit is issuing a stern warning to Christians of the unparalleled deception in the last days, commencing with the ascension of Christ, until His Second, visible Advent in glory, with flaming fire. We are to be extremely wary of wolves in sheeps' clothing. The false prophet described in Rev. 13:11 ff. is one such ravening wolf, who seeks to devour the Lord's true flock. The reader is now asked to view the illustration of the two-horned Roman Catholic bishop's miter at: http://www.iconbusters.com/iconbusters/works/works-photo9.htm
The miter was purposefully designed in this fashion because it is intended to represent two-horns. I quote Bruno Bernard Heim, in his exquisite book, Heraldry in the Catholic Church, Its Origins, Customs and Laws, (New Jersey: Van Duren, 1978); p. 62: "As already mentioned the mitre has undergone a whole series of transformations since its introduction in the liturgy. At the dawn of the Eleventh Century it was it was conical or hemispherical. Later it was divided from front to back. Since about 1125 it has been made up of two pointed pieces called HORNS, rising from each side and slightly inclined toward each other, held together by the lining. The Twelfth Century mitre no longer had the HORNS at the side, but fore the aft of the head." Mr. Heim, the designer of John XXIII's coat of arms, adds that Innocent III explained the symbol of the two-horns as representing the two Testaments, Old and New. Of course, by that explanation we are to understand that the bishops are ones who follow the Bible, the rule of faith for Christians. So here we have another unlikely fulfillment of prophecy. Not only does the Roman Catholic priesthood, including bishops, give and receive the indelible Mark, CHARACTEREM, as described in Rev. 13:16-17, but its bishops wear two-horned miters, as described in Rev. 13:11.
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