Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; and by the signs which it was allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives thos who dwell on earth, bidding them make an image for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
This calls for wisdom: Let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number; its number is six hundred and sixty six.
2 comments:
Does THIS sound like the Church (Protestant or Catholic; all seem to have fallen into this spirit to one degree or another!)?
Jews were supposed to wear symbols of God on their hand or their forehead, that is, to remember God in both their actions and their thoughts.
But the mark refered to here would suggest a different authority, other than God's, over people's deeds and minds... that of the conventional patriotic/religious beliefs of whatever time and place. The Church, when churches reigned over people's minds--the nation-state and the corporation, since then?
It kinda sounds like the Goverment. They need my social security number if I want to get a cell phone. Finger prints are needed for a passport to travel out of the country.
Peace
GMC
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