MARK OF THE BEAST VIII

As with my previous few posts the subject under discussion is that of BUYING AND SELLING, in answer to Leroy's query. Those who refuse the MARK/CHARACTEREM OF THE BEAST, Rev. 13:17 tells us, are forbidden to buy and sell in the kingdom of the Beast. There are to be no business or social dealings with the excommunicated heretics under perpetual anathema. The bulla against heretics issued by Pope Lucius III, Ad abolendam, A. D. 1184, has already been quoted in part. I will now jump ahead a few paragraphs in this most important official Catholic Church document, (because it lays the foundation for the infamous predicted Holy Office of the Inquisition), and quote from its final paragraph:

"We decree also that counts, barons, rectors and consuls of cities and other places, according to the admonition of their Bishops, shall promise by the taking of a formal oath that when required by them, [i.e., the Bishops], they will bona fide, [i.e., 'in good faith'], according to their office and power, help the Church faithfully and efficaciously against the heretics and their accomplices. If they are unwilling to observe this, let them be despoiled of the honor which they hold, and not be promoted on any account to others, while they themselves are none the less to be bound by EXCOMMUNICATION, and their lands are to be laid under ecclesiastical INTERDICT. Again, the city which thinks fit to resist these statues, or which, contrary to the Bishop's warning, neglects to punish resisters, let this city be cut off from INTERCOURSE with other cities, and know that it must be deprived of episcopal dignity…………"

EDITORIAL COMMENT:

The original Latin text of the last sentence, "let this city be cut off from INTERCOURSE with other cities," reads, "aliarum COMMERCIO civitatum…."

"Commercio" refers to COMMERCE, of course, which is defined by Webster as "the BUYING AND SELLING of goods," and/or "social intercourse."

We have already seen how excommunication of the 'Vitandi' demands shunning, treating them as outcasts, having no dealings with them whatsoever. In fact, they are not to receive a Christian burial. This last paragraph of Ad abolendam sheds new light on the Mark of the Beast. Though one may be a baptized Roman Catholic and confirmed in the faith, it is not enough. Unless the Roman Catholic citizen actively aids and abets the Bishops in their job of rooting out heresy, he will suffer similar consequences endured by the heretics. This rule applies to entire cities. Therefore, as Rebecca rightly pointed out in an earlier post, receiving the Mark/CHARACTEREM of the Beast is not enough. One must also OBEY the Beast. The forehead represents the mind and will. The hand represents the active, working member of one's body. The hand can do nothing but what the mind tells it to do. The mind rules the body. Therefore, the faithful subject of the Beast must not only receive the spiritual Mark/Characterem of the Beast, but must place his will in subjection to the Beast, complying with his demands and laws. One such demand is that of taking an oath to the Beast, a vow, swearing allegiance. This command is in direct opposition to the command of Jesus Christ:

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all……But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatever is more of these cometh of evil." (Matt. 5:34 ff).

"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." (James 5:12).

Let us now examine a typical oath required of the Roman Catholic people in Spain during the Middle Ages:

"I swear by God and Holy Mary and by the SIGN OF THE CROSS [i.e., CHARACTEREM of the Beast], and the words of the holy Gospels, that I will favor and defend and assist the holy catholic faith and the holy Inquisition, its officers and ministers, and that I will declare and discover all heretics whatsoever, abettors, defenders and concealers of them, disturbers and obstructors of the said Holy Office, and that I will not give them favor, nor help, nor concealment; but that immediately that I know them I will reveal and denounce them to the senior inquisitors, and should I ACT DIFFERENTLY, [read: ACT DISOBIENTLY], may God so punish me as those deserve who willingly perjure themselves."

 EDITIORIAL COMMENT:

Obedience to the Beast is a requirement necessary to proving one's faithfulness and love of the Beast. Obedience is also a necessary adjunct to worship. Disobedience proves disloyalty and hatred. To disobey one god is to obey another. Jesus teaches, "If ye love me, keep my commandments…..He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings…." Love and obedience are inextricably connected. It is impossible to love one god and at the same time serve another. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

The book of Revelation tells the history of God's true people in the Church Age, the Elect, who refuse to worship, love and obey the Beast. Their rebellion is dealt with harshly by the Beast through persecution, starvation, imprisonment, torture and death. The official Roman Catholic Church documents and teachings which I have been quoting verbatim are proof of the true nature of the Beast. The Pope has always demanded obedience as well as the receiving of his spiritual Mark. To disobey in any point of his law is to prove oneself a heretic, a dissenter, his enemy. History testifies to the fact of God's people refusing the Mark of the Beast. They preferred death, remaining obedient to the true God, proving their love for Him, rather than live in obedience to the false god, the Papal Beast. By this is manifest the true Church, distinguished from the false Church which kills the saints of Jesus.

I ask the participants of this message board to note the statement of faith of this message board, particularly item # 2: "We love and honor our Holy Father John Paul II."

Lord willing, this study in history and official Catholic documents will continue. May the One with whom we have to do grant saving grace to His Elect.