In Rev. 13: 16 we read, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” Again we have to do with the symbolic language used in the Holy Scriptures. A mark is some sign by which you recognise or know something. Paul, for instance, writes, “Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6: 17). He was suffering for the sake of Christ and the true proclamation of the gospel. But he certainly had not the bleeding signs, the wounds of the crucified Jesus in his hands or in his feet. That of course would be the most terrible devilish mockery a person could imagine to imitate the redemption work of God in Christ, our Lord. Paul was marked by those signs connected to his ministry as a servant of Christ, and he was bearing his reproach.

The mark on the forehead speaks of the decision one makes, and the mark on the hand speaks about the action of the person. The head signifies that one goes along with what is taking place, in this case to go along with the antichrist system. So both, the decision and the action is being shown by the head and the hand.

In the Bible believing circles, many occupy themselves with speaking about the mark of the beast, and they don’t recognise that every Christian denomination which is organised is already carrying that mark. God has never founded an institution with some headquarters somewhere. He has a living organism through which He continues His ministry. Bible believing Christians and churches are free. They exist as local bodies of believers, independent and sovereign in each place. In the beginning there were those men filled with the Spirit, having God-given authority because of a divine call. According to their commission, they were serving within the church just as God has placed the various offices into the assembly (I Cor. 12: 28; Eph. 4: 11).

In the beginning, there was no headquarters, and not one person ruling over all or being the final authority for the teachings. There were no bible schools, no seminaries for priests, etc. To really say the truth, those things which are seen now were not in existence then, and those things which were in existence then are not in existence now. Everything was replaced and changed from its original pattern.

Today, whether in churches or free churches, everywhere we have the same spirit of organisation, and we see the difference between that which was taught and practised in the early church and that of today. We only have the remembrance and a dead form of godliness but not the same spiritual life. Today even the smallest group of Christians has laid down what they believe and so forth. Only if someone belongs to the same organisation, he can preach there. The Protestants have rightly acknowledged that salvation cannot come through the Roman Catholic Church. But at the same time, if one looks into the matter very deeply, every denomination has the same claim. Whether its being said or not, more or less all believe that, if one doesn’t accept their doctrines, their revelation and whatever they teach and practise, one cannot be saved.

In this way, every organisation identifies itself with the same mark of the first organised religion, even if they differ from one another. This in itself is the mark of the beast, because it’s the same antichrist spirit, which has ruled the first organisation and is going to rule everyone right to the last one. People are not brought to Christ and don’t take His doctrine — they are bound to a person or to a so-called revelation or interpretation. It should be understood that all who are members of the churches and free churches, who have gone into this organisation automatically receive the mark of the beast. This everyone should know.

In Rev. 13: 16 we read, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” Again we have to do with the symbolic language used in the Holy Scriptures. A mark is some sign by which you recognise or know something. Paul, for instance, writes, “Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6: 17). He was suffering for the sake of Christ and the true proclamation of the gospel. But he certainly had not the bleeding signs, the wounds of the crucified Jesus in his hands or in his feet. That of course would be the most terrible devilish mockery a person could imagine to imitate the redemption work of God in Christ, our Lord. Paul was marked by those signs connected to his ministry as a servant of Christ, and he was bearing his reproach.

The mark on the forehead speaks of the decision one makes, and the mark on the hand speaks about the action of the person. The head signifies that one goes along with what is taking place, in this case to go along with the antichrist system. So both, the decision and the action is being shown by the head and the hand.

In the Bible believing circles, many occupy themselves with speaking about the mark of the beast, and they don’t recognise that every Christian denomination which is organised is already carrying that mark. God has never founded an institution with some headquarters somewhere. He has a living organism through which He continues His ministry. Bible believing Christians and churches are free. They exist as local bodies of believers, independent and sovereign in each place. In the beginning there were those men filled with the Spirit, having God-given authority because of a divine call. According to their commission, they were serving within the church just as God has placed the various offices into the assembly (I Cor. 12: 28; Eph. 4: 11).

In the beginning, there was no headquarters, and not one person ruling over all or being the final authority for the teachings. There were no bible schools, no seminaries for priests, etc. To really say the truth, those things which are seen now were not in existence then, and those things which were in existence then are not in existence now. Everything was replaced and changed from its original pattern.

Today, whether in churches or free churches, everywhere we have the same spirit of organisation, and we see the difference between that which was taught and practised in the early church and that of today. We only have the remembrance and a dead form of godliness but not the same spiritual life. Today even the smallest group of Christians has laid down what they believe and so forth. Only if someone belongs to the same organisation, he can preach there. The Protestants have rightly acknowledged that salvation cannot come through the Roman Catholic Church. But at the same time, if one looks into the matter very deeply, every denomination has the same claim. Whether its being said or not, more or less all believe that, if one doesn’t accept their doctrines, their revelation and whatever they teach and practise, one cannot be saved.

In this way, every organisation identifies itself with the same mark of the first organised religion, even if they differ from one another. This in itself is the mark of the beast, because it’s the same antichrist spirit, which has ruled the first organisation and is going to rule everyone right to the last one. People are not brought to Christ and don’t take His doctrine — they are bound to a person or to a so-called revelation or interpretation. It should be understood that all who are members of the churches and free churches, who have gone into this organisation automatically receive the mark of the beast. This everyone should know.