What was the mark of Cain?

Question

Cain was the first man to rebel against God. The Pagan cross Which was an X. God also protected Him that symbol is a circle. the pagan cross with a circle around it. God protected Cain from being killed which was Gods Grace held out to Cain so Cain had his whole life to repent. He never repented remained a pagan and worshiped the God of this world (satan). Some say it was dark skin (which is very incorrect) this thought is from a pagan source itself whom also worship the god of this world. Fell free to answer what you think the mark of Cain is.

Cain aproached God with an offering of his own labor (works) Abel appoached God with an offering of an innocent lamb a substitute bearing the which Abel recognized as his own. Cian could have asked God what should have I offered, but instead He murdered his brother and rejected God and His grace, God would have forgave Cain, Cain His own way turned away from God even though Gods offer of Grace and forgiveness lasted until cain died. This was the first examples of two humanities.

Cain aproached God with an offering of his own labor (works) Abel appoached God with an offering of an innocent lamb a substitute bearing the guilt which Abel recognized as his own. Cian could have asked God what should have I offered, but instead He murdered his brother and rejected God and His grace, God would have forgave Cain, Cain His own way turned away from God even though Gods offer of Grace and forgiveness lasted until cain died. This was the first examples of two humanities.

GRACE was the mark.

GRACE was the mark.

Answer 1

The mark of Cain was the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit. Cain lost his priesthood and the spirit of God, thus, his mark was more spiritual in nature than an actual physical emblem placed upon him.
Pagans offer mark themselves. I believe that it is possible Cain marked himself with something, thus further fulfilling God's word, but the mark placed on him by God would have been spiritual.

Answer 2

Wasn't Adam actually the first? He did something God told him specifically NOT to. Cain killed his brother but hadn't been told not to or that it was wrong. I'm not sure, if we are going on the Genesis story, how Pagans come into this. Where did you hear that Cain worshiped Satan? Actually the source of the Mark of Cain being dark skin was white supremacists. It was their proof that Cain was actually the son of Satan or Satan disguised as the snake, and therefore all dark skinned peopled were descendants of Satan. As far as what the mark actually was, we'll probably never know. It didn't seem to hurt Cain much seeing as how he went on to marry, have many children and build a city.

Answer 3

Since Cain and all of his descendants drowned in Noah's flood, we will never know. How can the mark of Cain be dark skin? We still have dark skinned people today, so black people must have descended from righteous Noah, just like white people did.

Answer 4

Isn't Cain Big Foot/Sasquatch? No, really, I don't think anyone can say, because the scriptures don't. All it says is that "the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." From that one would think it was something very obvious and something he could not hide. I therefore don't think it was a tatoo or something simple like that, but rather a change to his being. Good luck.

Answer 5

Hit google to research this. What I found interesting was this.

"Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.", and God "set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." (Gen. 4:15)."

It was interpreted as meaning, from Wikipedia,

"Historically, however, many Christians have interpreted the Biblical passages so that the "mark" is thought to be part of the "curse". In 18th century America and Europe, it was commonly assumed that Cain's "mark" was black skin, and that Cain's descendants were black and still under Cain's curse. Accepting the theory that God had cursed black people, racists have used the curse as a Biblical justification for racism. These racial and ethnic interpretations of the curse and the mark have been largely abandoned even by the most conservative theologians since the mid-20th century, although the theory still has some following among white supremacists and an older generation of whites, as well as a very small minority of Christian churches."

Given the practice of lynching black people prior to the turbulent 60s and the changing of the Crow laws as a result, would this not have meant that god cursed those who murdered black people? The hypocrisy here is stunning.

As to Cain's mark, what would have indicated that god marked him at that time? There was no Christian cross as Jesus was not born yet. There was no church as according to Hebrew and Christian myth, these were the first people of god's creation. Consequently your theory that the mark was a pagan cross is also incorrect because no pagans were around yet. With that in mind, what would delineate one person from another at that time?

I think it would be a visible aura. All of us have energy emanating from us that can be photographed via Kirlian photography. That being the case, what if god made Cain's aura visible with the naked eye? That would surely set him apart with the result most likely being frightening for anyone to see. And speaking about the "anyone" factor...

Given that Adam and Eve were the first people, and Cain and Able their offspring, who would Cain need protection from? There was no one else around. And finally, the pagan cross that you're speaking of is in fact the Celtic Cross. It is not evil. Nor is it a symbol for satan.

Answer 6

I think it was a tattoo

Answer 7

There are so many speculation as to the Mark of Cain. When Cain was chastise by God, God put a mark on Cain and this mark was the center of many debate, though they are right in thier own respect, the Mark is still the subject of much opinion.

As far as my opinion is concerned, here is some facts you might consider regarding the MARK OF CAIN.

THE MYSTERIOUS MARK OF CAIN

When Cain was banished from the sight of God, to the land of NOD of wandering and unrest, God place a MARK upon him so that all would know who he was and would not destroy him lest they suffer 7-fold vengeance. The Hebrew word for MARK is simply OWTH meaning ‘a signal’ as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence – mark, miracle, ensign, token. It was something that identified Cain and set him apart from other men. It marked him as not being one of God’s own people but an outcast, a renegade, and a man who had been banished from the society of God’s people. This MARK came to stand for CAIN and his WAY. Could it be the pagan ‘cross’ or ‘x’ which was a sign commonly used in pagan societies and among the heathens religion? The CROSS or X or TAU symbol stood for the pagan messiah Tammuz, who was the illegitimate son of Semiramis wife of Nimrod.

Alexander Hislop tell us ‘there is yet one more symbol of the ROMISH WORSHIP to be noticed, and that is the SIGN OF THE CROSS. In the PAPAL SYSTEM, as is well known, the sign of the cross and the image of the cross are all in all. No prayer can be made, no worship engaged in, no step almost can be taken without the sign of the cross. The CROSS was looked upon as the GRAND CHARM (remember Cain, the mark was his symbol of divine protections, no wonder its use would become commonplace among his followers), as the GREST REFUGE IN EVERY SEASON OF DANGER, IN EVERY HOUR OF TEMPTATION as the INFALLIBLE PRESERVATIVES form all the powers of darkness. The CROSS IS ADONED WITH ALL THE HOMAGE DUE ONLY TO THE MOST HIGH, and for any one to call it in the hearing of a genuine ROMANIST by the scriptural term, ‘THE ACCURSED TREE’ is a mortal offence. To say that such superstitious feeling for the sign of the cross, such worship as Rome pays to a wooden or a metal cross ever grew out of the saying of Paul, ‘God forbid that I shall glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ – that is, in the doctrine of Christ crucified – is a mere absurdity, a shallow subterfuge and pretence. The magic virtue attributed to the so called SIGN OF THE CROSS. The worship bestow on it never came from such a source. THE SAME SIGN OF THE CROSS THAT ROME NOW WORSHIP WAS USED IN THE BABYLONIAN MYSTERIES was applied by paganism to the same magic purposes, was honored with the same honors. That which is now called the Christian Cross. Originally there was not Christian emblem at all, but was the mystic TAU of the CHALDEAN and EGYPTIAN – the true original form of the letter ‘T’ is the initial of the name of TAMMUZ – which in Hebrew radically the same as ancient Chaldee. The MYSTIC TAU was a MARK in baptism, on the FOREHEAD of those initiated in the mysteries, and was used in every variety of way as a most sacred symbol. To identify Tammuz with the son, it was joined sometimes to the circle of the sun … (read the two Babylon pages 197 to 198). The clear understanding of the pagan use of the cross can only inspire one to wonder as to its original source, and nothing would suit the purpose better than the ‘mark.’ The sign of protection which God himself used to mark the forehead of Cain.

Those who go about using this sign identify themselves as followers of the WAY OF CAIN and the religion begun with Cain. Hislop continues, “… there seems no reason to doubt that the Maltese cross is an express symbol of the sun, for LAYARD found it as a sacred symbol in NINEVEH in such a connection as led him to identify it with the sun. The mystic TAU, as the symbol of the great divinity was called ‘THE SIGN OF LIFE’, it was use as an amulet over the heart. It was mark in the official garments of the priest of Rome, it was borne by kings in their in their hands as a token of their dignity or divinely conferred authority. (ibid., p-198) The vestal virgins of pagan Rome use it suspended from their necklaces, even as Catholic nuns do now. The ancient Egyptians monuments show. Wilkerson says in his work on the Egyptian, ‘IT WAS ALREADY IN USE AS EARLY AS THE 15TH CENTURY BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA’ (vol-1 p-376) Hislop says, “there is hardly a pagan tribe where the cross has hot been found. The cross was worshipped by the pagan CELTS long before the incarnation and death of Christ. It was worshipped in Mexico for ages before the Roman Catholic missionaries set foot there. Large stone crosses being erected probably to the ‘god rain’. The cross was widely worshipped or regarded as a sacred emblem, and was the unequivocal symbol of BACCHUS the Babylonian messiah for he was represented with a headband covered with crosses. This symbol of the Babylonian god is reverence at this day in all the wild wastes of TARTARY, where Buddhism prevail and the way in which it is represented among them forms a striking commentary on the language applied by ‘Rome to the cross’ (p-199)

Hislop relates, ‘now the pagan symbol seems first to have crept into the Christian Church in Egypt, and generally into Africa. A statement of Tertullian about the middle of the 3rd century, shows how much by that time the church of Carthage was infected with the old leaven.Egypt especially which was never thoroughly evangelized appears to have taken the lead in bringing in this pagan symbol’ (p - 201) Ralph Woodrow says in Babylon mystery religion, it was not until Christianity began to be paganized, that the cross came to be thought of as a Christian Symbol. It was in 431 AD that crosses in churches and chambers were introduced, while the use of crosses on steeples did not come until about 586 AD. In the 6th century, the crucifix image was introduce and its worship sanctioned by the church of Rome. It was not until the 2nd council at Ephesus that private homes were required to posses a cross. Woodrow pointed out that that long before Christ, the cross was a widely used religious symbol not only in Babylon and Egypt but also in Chine where it was used on pagodas. In northern and southern India, among both Buddhist and Hindus. In Ethiopia and in Mexico among the Aztecs. The ancient Mexican worshipped the cross as ‘TOTA’ or ‘OUR FATHER’. But the word of God condemns calling a stock of wood ‘MY FATHER’ (see Jeremiah 2:27)
The cross as an instrument of death and crucifixion is also of remote antiquity and pagan. The cross was use in this way by the ancient Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, in Palestine, Carthage, Greece and by the Romans. Tradition says that the originator of this form of execution was none other than Semiramis the apostate-prostitute wife of Nimrod shortly after the flood. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that the cross was the literal ‘mark of Cain?’ it was his own personal ‘amulet’ of protection. He began to view with superstitious regard and reverence, and it became the symbol of his way, his religious institution, his mystery religion. This is the first ‘mark of Cain’ or ‘mark of the beast’ was the cross. But prophecy speaks of another ‘mark of the beast’ which is coming soon.

In book of Revelation chapter-13 v.11 we read: “Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth, he had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon” This beast represents a great false church going the way of Cain. It pretends to be Christian (look like a lamb), but is really of Satan the devil (Speaks like Satan who is the great dragon – see Rev 12:9) The great religious empire, sprawling over the whole earth like a great whore (Rev 17:1-6). Will even martyr the true saints of God (Rev 17:6) This 2nd beast – patterned after the 1st beast which represents the ROMAN EMPIRE and its various European nations resurrected down through history, and the future resurrection which is to come shortly will received power and authority from the first beast to enforce its religious belief system, and the sign of the cross on the entire world. All the practices and beliefs of the way of Cain will be enforced on people on pain of death. John states (Revelation 13:16-18) “He also forced everyone small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive the mark on his right hand or on his forehead so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. this call for wisdom, if anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast for it is man’s number. His number is six hundred and threescore and six” (666) John writes later (Revelation 14:9-12) “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, ‘if anyone worship the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too will drink of the wine of God’s fury which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the lamb, and the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day and night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. This call for patient endurance on th part of the saints, who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” The wrath of God begins to be poured out in 7-vials during the coming ‘DAY OF THE LORD (Rev 16) . The first angel pours out his vial or bowl of God’s fury on the land of the beast and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image” (Rev 16:2). Those people will indeed suffer the wrath of God.

BUT WHAT IS THIS MYSTERIOUS MARK?

The Greek word for MARK here is, CHARAGMA, meaning ‘a scratch or etching, stamp (as a baggage of servitude), sculpture figure (statue) – graven image. Some believe that this Mark will be some sort of universal identity card or credit card issued by the rising EUROPEAN ROMAN EMPIRE or EUROPEAN UNION none will be able to buy or sell without it. It will identify those who are part of the beast system, a COMMERCIAL, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL system rising up in Europe.

However, although that may indeed be a form of the MARK of the beast, this particular mark is engaged in a person’s hand or forehead. This indicates, it will also involve how the person works (uses his hand) and think (uses his forehead or brain, to make decision). It will involved acceptance of a system of religious belief and religious practices. This mark could also refer to a sculptured figure or figurine – such as a cross or a small crucifix.

In other words, it identifies one as belong to Cain and his modern representatives, the Roman Catholic Church. In the future all who do not embrace Catholicism and accept the doctrines of the Catholic Church which stem from ancient Babylon, and the way of Cain – such as Sunday worship and all the pagan practices and beliefs, and idolatrous images – will be hunted down, imprisoned, and tortured, and many will be martyred.
Thus, the mark of the beast is far more than just some kind of credit card. God would not be furious with people merely because they possessed some kind of credit card. But it will involve an entire RELIGIOUS BELIEF SYSTEM.

It could well be the very cross itself – the sign of Cain, and the sign of the church which he founded in Babylon before the flood.
Will you join up with this end-time apostasy? Will you submit to the mark of the beast in order to save your life? Will you give up the truth of God, and accept fables and myths and rituals of

Paganism in place of the commandments of God? Will you worship on Cain’s Day? (Sunday) – one of the marks of the beast and the cross itself the sign or mark of Cain?

What about it?

John Writes (Revelation 19:19-21) “The I saw the beast and the kings of the earth armies gathered together to make war against th rider on the horse and his army, but the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who had preformed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had receive the mark of the beast and worship his image. The tow of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh” Consider many of those who have the mark of the beast will actually follow the beast and false prophet. The pope fight against Christ when he return as the head of his angelic army from heaven.

Could you someday find yourself fighting against Christ?

If you have the mark of the beast and imbibe of his errors and false doctrines and you can be one of his followers, one of his soldiers conscripted to join his army. Someday, and literally find yourself in the midst of an army destined for destruction and doom. On the other hand, God has a special reward for those who refuse the mark of the beast, even at the cost of their lives. John writes (Revelation 20:4-6) “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge, and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast of his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands or on their hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (the rest of the dead did not come to life until a thousand years were ended) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrect. The second death has no power over them but they will be priest of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. The mark of the beast is the mark of Cain, may God help you to be faithful to him, and not received this dreadful mark, so you will not be among those who suffer the wrath of the Almighty God, but live and reign with Christ when he comes.

Answer 8

The Mysterious "Mark of Cain"

When Cain was banished from the sight of YEHOVAH God, to the land of "Nod," or wandering and unrest, YEHOVAH placed a "mark" upon him so that all would know who he was, and would not destroy him lest they suffer seven-fold vengeance.

The Hebrew word for "mark" is simply owth and means "a signal, as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence -- mark, miracle, ensign, token."

It was something that identified Cain, and set him apart from other men. It marked him as not being one of YEHOVAH's own people, but an outcast, a renegade, a man who had been banished from the society of YEHOVAH's people. This mark came to stand for Cain and his way. Could it have been the pagan "cross" or "X" which was a sign commonly used in pagan societies and among the heathens religions? The "cross" or "X" or "Tau" symbol stood for the pagan Messiah Tammuz, who was the illegitimate son of Semiramis, wife of Nimrod.

Alexander Hislop tells us:

"There is yet one more symbol of the Romish worship to be noticed, and that is the sign of the CROSS. In the Papal system, as is well known, the sign of the cross and the image of the cross are all in all. No prayer can be said, no worship engaged in, no step almost can be taken, without the frequent use of the sign of the cross. The cross was looked upon as the GRAND CHARM [rememeber Cain? The "mark" was his symbol of divine protection! No wonder its use would become commonplace among his followers!], as the GREAT REFUGE IN EVERY SEASON OF DANGER, in every hour of temptation as the INFALLIBLE PRESERVATIVE from all the powers of darkness. The cross is adored with all the homage due only to the Most High; and for any one to call it, in the hearing of a genuine Romanist, by the Scriptural term, 'the accursed tree' is a MORTAL OFFENCE. To say that such superstitious feeling for the sign of the cross, such worship as Rome pays to a wooden or a metal cross, ever grew out of the saying of Paul, 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ' -- that is, in the doctrine of Christ crucified -- is a mere absurdity, a shallow subterfuge and pretence. The magic virtue attributed to the so-called sign of the cross, the worship bestowed on it, never came from such a source. The SAME SIGN OF THE CROSS THAT ROME NOW WORSHIPS WAS USED IN THE BABYLONIAN MYSTERIES, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honoured with the same honours. That which is now called the Christian cross was ORIGINALLY NO CHRISTIAN EMBLEM AT ALL, BUT WAS THE MYSTIC TAU OF THE CHALDEANS AND EGYPTIANS -- the true original form of the letter T -- the initial of the name of Tammuz -- which, in Hebrew, radically the same as ancient Chaldee . . . . That mystic Tau was MARKED IN BAPTISM ON THE FOREHEADS OF THOSE INITIATED IN THE MYSTERIES, and was used in every variety of way as a most sacred symbol. To identify Tammuz with the son it was joined sometimes to the circle of the sun. . ." (The Two Babylons, p. 197-198).

A clear understanding of the pagan use of the cross can only inspire one to wonder as to its original source. And nothing would suit the purpose better than the "mark," the "sign of protection" which YEHOVAH God Himself used to mark the forehead of Cain!

The pagan "cross" sign or symbol is the MARK OF CAIN!

Those who go about using this sign identify themselves as followers of the "WAY OF CAIN," and the RELIGION BEGUN BY CAIN!

Hislop continues: ". . . there seems no reason to doubt that that Maltese cross is an express symbol of the sun; for Layard found it as a sacred symbol in Nineveh in such a connection as led him to identify it with the sun. The mystic Tau, as the symbol of the great divinity, was called 'the sign of life;' it was used as an AMULET OVER THE HEART; it was marked on the official garments of the priests of Rome; it was borne by kings in their hand, as a token of their dignity or divinely-conferred authority" (ibid., p.198).

The Vestal virgins of Pagan Rome used it suspended from their necklaces, even as Catholic nuns do now. The ancient Egyptians did the same, as Egyptian monuments show. Says Wilkinson in his work on the Egyptians, "it was already in use as early as the fifteenth century before the Christian era" (vol.1, p. 376).

Says Hislop:

"There is hardly a Pagan tribe where the cross has not been found. The cross was worshipped by the Pagan Celts, long before the incarnation and death of Christ. . . . It was worshipped in Mexico for ages before the Roman Catholic missionaries set foot there, large stone crosses being erected, probably to the 'god of rain.' The cross thus widely worshipped, or regarded as a sacred emblem, was the unequivocal symbol of Bacchus, the Babylonian Messiah, for he was represented with a head-band covered with crosses. This symbol of the Babylonian god is reverenced at this day in all the wild wastes of Tartary, where Buddhism prevails, and the way in which it is represented among them forms a striking commentary on the language applied by Rome to the Cross" (p.199).

How did the cross get into the visible "Christian" church? Hislop relates, "Now this Pagan symbol seems first to have crept into the Christian Church in EGYPT, and generally into Africa. A statement of Tertullian, about the middle of the third century, shows how much, by that time, the Church of Carthage was infected with the old leaven. Egypt, especially, which was never thoroughly evangelized, appears to have taken the lead in bringing in this Pagan symbol" (p.201).

Says Ralph Woodrow, in Babylon Mystery Religion, "It was not until Christianity began to be paganized that the cross came to be thought of as a Christian symbol. It was in 431 A.D. that crosses in churches and chambers were introduced, while the use of crosses on steeples did not come until about 586 A.D. In the sixth century, the crucifix image was introduced and its worship sanctioned by the church of Rome. It was not until the second council at Ephesus that private homes were required to possess a cross" (p.50).

Woodrow points out the long before the Messiah, the cross was a widely used religious symbol not only in Babylon and Egypt, but also in China, where it was used on pagodas, in northern and southern India, among both Buddhists and Hindus, in Ethiopia, and in Mexico, among the Aztecs.

The ancient Mexicans worshipped the cross as "Tota," or "Our Father." But the Word of YEHOVAH God condemns calling a stock of wood "My father" (see Jer.2:27).

The cross, as an instrument of death and crucifixion, is also of remote antiquity, and pagan. The cross was used in this way by the ancient Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, in Palestine, Carthage, Greece, and by the Romans. Tradition says the originator of this form of execution was none other than Semiramis, the apostate-prostitute wife of Nimrod, shortly after the Flood!

Doesn't it make sense, then, that the "cross" was the literal "mark of Cain"? It was his own personal "amulet" of protection; he began to view with with superstitious regard and reverence. And it became the symbol of his way -- his religious institution -- his mystery religious system.

This the first "mark of Cain" or "mark of the Beast" was the cross! But prophecy speaks of another "mark of the Beast" which is coming soon!

The Mark of the BEAST

In the book of Revelation we read: "Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon" (Rev.13:11). This "beast" represents a great false Church going the way of Cain! It pretends to be Christian (looks like a lamb), but is really of Satan the devil (speaks like Satan who is the great dragon -- see Rev.12:9).

The great religious empire, sprawling over the whole earth like a great whore (Rev.17:1-6), will even martyr the true saints of YEHOVAH God (Rev.17:6). This second "beast" -- patterned after the "first beast," which represents the Roman Empire and its various European resurrections down through history -- will receive power and authority from the first beast to enforce its religious belief system, and the sign of the cross, on the entire world! All the practices and beliefs of the "way of Cain" will be ENFORCED on people, on pain of death!

John states: "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a MARK on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could BUY OR SELL unless he had the mark, which is the NAME of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is MAN'S number. His number is 666" (Rev.13:16-18).

John writes, later, "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and his image and RECEIVES HIS MARK on the forehead or on the hand,, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus" (Rev.14:9-12).

The wrath of YEHOVAH God begins to be poured out in seven vials during the coming "Day of the Lord" (Rev.16). The first angel pours out his vial or bowl of YEHOVAH's fury on the land of the Beast, "and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the MARK of the beast and worshiped his image" (Rev.16:2). Those people will indeed suffer the wrath of YEHOVAH God!

But what is this mysterious "mark"?

The Greek word for "mark" here is charagma and means, "a scratch or etching, stamp (as a badge of servitude), sculptured figure (statue) -- graven, mark."

Some believe this "mark" will be some sort of universal identity card or credit card, issued by the rising "European Roman Empire," or "European Union." None will be able to buy or sell without it. It will identify those who are "part of" the Beast system, a commercial-religious-political system rising up in Europe.

However, this particular "mark" is engraved in a person's hand or forehead. This indicates it will also involve how the person works (uses his hands), and thinks (uses his forehead, or brain, to make decisions). It will involve acceptance of a system of religious BELIEFS, and religious PRACTICES. This "mark" could also refer to a sculptured figure or figurine -- such as a CROSS, or a small crucifix! In other words, it IDENTIFIES ONE AS BELONG TO CAIN and his modern representatives -- the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH! In the future, all who do not embrace Catholicism and accept the doctrines of the Catholic Church, which stem from ancient Babylon, and the Way of CAIN -- such as Sunday worship, and all the pagan practices and beliefs and idolatrous images -- will be hunted down, imprisoned, and tortured, and many will be martyred!

Thus the "mark of the Beast" is far more than just some kind of "credit card." YEHOVAH God would not be furious with people merely because they possessed some kind of credit card. But it will involve an entire RELIGIOUS BELIEF SYSTEM! It could well be the very CROSS itself -- the SIGN of Cain, and the SIGN of his Church, which he founded, in Babylon, before the Flood!

Will you join up with this end-time apostasy? Will you submit to the "mark of the beast" in order to save your life? Will you give up the truth of YEHOVAH God, and accept fables and myths, and rituals of paganism in place of the commandments of YEHOVAH?

Will you worship on Cain's day -- Sunday -- one of the "marks" which mark his followers? Will you worship idols, and images of the beast, and the cross itself -- the sign or mark of Cain?

What about it?

John writes, "Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had DELUDED those who had RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh" (Rev.19:19-21).

Consider! Many of those who have the "mark of the Beast" will actually follow the beast and false prophet, the Pope, and FIGHT AGAINST THE MESSIAH and YEHOVAH GOD when He returns at the head of His angelic army from heaven!

Could you actually someday find yourself fighting against YEHOVAH God and the Messiah?

If you have the "mark of the Beast," and imbibe of his errors and false doctrines, and you could be one of his followers, one of his soldiers, conscripted to join his army, someday, and literally find yourself in the midst of an army destined for destruction and doom!

But on the other hand, YEHOVAH God has a special reward for those who refuse the "mark o the Beast," even at the cost of their lives, if necessary. John writes:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his MARK on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and REIGNED WITH CHRIST a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years" (Rev.20:4-6).

The mark of the Beast is the mark of Cain! May YEHOVAH God help you to be faithful to Him, and not receive this dreadful "mark," so you will not be among those who suffer the wrath of Almighty God, but live and reign with YEHOVAH God and the Messiah when they come!