THE BEAST AND ITS IMAGE

The Roman church is represented by the first beast. The church had power and authority to punish all people who did not agree with the church doctrines. The image to this beast represents another religious organization having similar powers. The image is made by a lamblike beast. This lamblike beast is a symbol of the United States, which looks peaceful and gentle.SRme 1.1667

*Symbol: something that stands for, or represents, something else.SRme 1.1668

This lamblike nation [U.S.A] will make an image to the papacy. The churches of the United States will unite on common interests of faith. Then these churches that have united will influence the government to enforce religious laws and support church organizations. When this happens, Protestant America will have formed an image of the papacy. Then the true church will be persecuted the same as God's people in the past.SRme 1.1669

The lamblike beast commands "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev. 13:16, 17).SRme 1.1670

The third angel warns against this mark. This mark can be found among those things that make the first beast, or papacy, different from other powers. The prophet Daniel said that Rome would try to change times and laws. (Daniel 7:25) The little horn is a symbol of the Roman power.SRme 1.1671

The apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, called the Roman power the man of sin who would say he had more power than God. Only by changing God's law could Rome show it [Rome] had more power than God. Many people keep the changed law without knowing that it the law has been changed. But people who know that God's law has been changed and keep the law as it has been changed, are giving more honor to the power that changed the law than to God.SRme 1.1672

Rome has tried to change the fourth commandment because the fourth commandment is the only commandment that says God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The fourth commandment shows that the true God is different from all other gods. The Sabbath was given to celebrate the work of creation and to turn the thoughts of people to the true and living God. Throughout the Scriptures the creative power of God is mentioned to show that the God of Israel is the only true God. Pagan gods are not true gods.SRme 1.1673

If the Sabbath had always been kept, people's thoughts and love would have been centered on their Maker [God]. God would have been reverenced and worshiped. People would not have worshiped idols or said that there is no God.SRme 1.1674

The seventh-day Sabbath points to God as the Creator. The seventh-day Sabbath is a sign of God's rightful authority over all people. God made all people. Changing the Sabbath is the sign, or mark, of the power of the papacy. Some people who understand the fourth commandment choose to keep the false day of worship. By worshiping on the false Sabbath day, these people are obeying and honoring the power that changed the day.SRme 1.1675