We know from SOP that it will entail a union of church and state, but on practical grounds, how will that be instituted as that would mean foundational changes.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads (Revelation 13:15-16).

We know the mark of the Beast will be enforced by the image of the Beast. The first beast of the Papacy utilized the state resources to enforce its doctrines, so we know that America will use its police forces as well as armed forces to make everyone obey the false doctrines of the first beast. With its political and military might, the United States can force the world to pay homage to the first beast and comply with its doctrines. The mark of the beast on the hand is just following along with it while the mark of the beast on the forehead is actually believing its false doctrine and rejecting the scriptures.

The Image of the Beast will enforced the Beasts doctrines through the law and persecution and somehow through its influence force the world to enact papal laws and enforce their observance. According to the Scriptures, the mark will be enforced by imposing economic sanctions which it is doing even now for smaller issues, but this will be on global scale on those unwilling to accept the mark of the beast...

And that no man might buy nor sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name…and his number is six hundred, three score and six (Revelation 13:17-18).

Now Seventh-day Adventists teach that the near the end of time the "mark of the beast" of Revelation 14 will be received on those who follow and those who actually believe on the false doctrines of the Beast which includes the change to Sunday worship instead of Saturday.

Here are the main points:

1. Adventists identify the union of Roman Catholicism with civil power or church-state power as the "beast" of Revelation.

"The beast described in Revelation 13:1-10 is the church-state union that dominated the Christian world for many centuries and was described by Paul as the 'man of sin' (2 Thess. 2:2-4) and by Daniel as the 'little horn' (Den. 7:8, 20-25; 8:9-12).

2. The Catholic Church, in the Dark Ages, changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday, a pagan day of worship and enforced it on all the lands it went into or killed and excommunited those who opposed it.

3. At the end of time, a conflict will arise between those who worship the beast and receive its mark, and those who are the true followers of God. What sets these two groups apart is that the true loyal remnant, keeps Saturday as a holy day, and the fallen and apostate, keeps Sunday as a holy day.


4. At the end of time, those who keep Sunday as a holy day will seek to destroy those who keep Saturday as a holy day. They will pass laws against the Sabbath-keepers, known to Adventists as the National Sunday Law or Universal Sunday Law:

5. Jesus will return to put an end to the conflict, and those who follow God will go with Christ to heaven and Eternal Life, while those who follow the Beast and his image or the United States enforcement of the Beasts power and doctrine, will at the end receive Eternal Death.

So what will the Image Beast do to enforce the false doctrines of the Papal power beast?

The first thing that needs to happen is for the inactive Sunday laws to become fully active again.

Do we see this happening yet?

That is what Adventists teach, but the Bible warns of a financial entity that will most likely precede the Sabbath/Sunday problem.

Since judgment starts at the house of God, those who adhere to the Sabbath issue First view, will see no problems with buying into a universal monetary system that Revelation forewarns about. Then after they have disobeyed a clear thus saith the Lord, the Sabbath issue will arise. Those who obeyed the beast in order to buy and sell will find out too late that the financial system became the mark of the beast when it linked to Sabbath observance and they can't opt out. Thus it is a deception and the deceived will be lost.

Please, describe this "universal monetary system".

I don't know what "His Child" sees as the "universal monetary system" --

Seems it can mean an international monetary system of a set of internationally agreed rules, conventions and supporting institutions that facilitate international trade and the flow of money between nations. Right now it seems the US dollar is the "standard" by which other currencies are measured.

OR

It could mean the introduction of a single currency used by all nations -- though that doesn't seem like it's going to happen.

However, I personally see the move from currency to plastic cards as the most probably means by which buying and selling will be controlled. We are seeing more and more of that-- money is being handled electronically rather than actual cash.
When your cards are rejected -- you can not buy.

I do not agree that using the means by which money is now exchanged in buying and selling is accepting the "mark of the beast". There is no moral issue involved as long as the money is rightfully yours and you are engaged in a legal financial exchange. Though it may be wise to use cash at least some of the time, to encourage the government to keep cash in the financial world.


What ever method the governments use to restrict buying and selling, it will be an extremely difficult time for those denied. It will be a test THEN whether to renounce ones stand for Christ in order to continue to buy and sell, or throw themselves in complete trust into the arms of the Lord to maintain them in spite of the fact they are cut of from human support.

I agree with dedication, the elimination of cash is the key. Nations may be manipulated by military intimidation and the interconnected banking system, that to a large extent, already exists; however, individuals must be deprived of access to cash. Only then will it be possible, literally with the push of a button, to prevent anyone, anywhere, on earth from buying or selling.

The language used to describe the Papal power in Daniel 8:25 may have some bearing, especially in light of Revelation 13:12 "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him..."

Daniel 8:23-25
23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

Strong’s defines the word "peace" here, as security/abundance/peace/prosperity...

shalvâh, shal-vaw'; from H7951; security (genuine or false):—abundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness.

Does this language bring to mind international free trade treaties: the European Common Market, the USMCA, the New Silk Road, TPP? Financial control of the world’s nation’s is progressing rapidly. As for control of individual finances, how often do you use a debit card, or online banking? How often do you pay with cash? We are already conditioned to think of cash as an inconvenience. If it was gradually phased out, would you really miss it?

Zero access to savings, pay cheques, impossible to pay mortgages, car loans, buy food...
"The just shall live by faith.". Amen!

When the image was first proposed, it was not meant to be a statuesque replica of the beast, but something to honour the beast by: "make an image TO the beast." Rev 13:14

• Think of the time when Moses left Israel to go up the mountain and Aaron asked the people for jewelry and fashioned a golden calf. "Then they said, This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Exod. 32:4 That golden calf was an image TO and not OF ...
   
• This was the same type of image spoken of in Dan. 3:1, "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits." It was not an image of Nebuchadnezzar but an image TO some Chaldean god of whom Nebuchadnezzar and his advisers were "prophets".
   
• Also, in the book of Ezekiel, God showed him what the Jews were doing even in His House. "'Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.' So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance." Ezek. 8:5

The interesting thing about these images is that they are dead, dead, dead. They speak only because some "prophet" claims to be their medium. In Revelation, it is the false prophet (the beast from the earth) that plays the part of medium, forcing people to actively, deliberately worship the Image much like what Nebuchadnezzar did.

But it is difficult, in this day and age, to see a possibility for such a scenario in North America. Civilization has progressed to the point that any suggestion that a well-crafted piece of stone should be worshiped comes across as ludicrous to our eyes and ears. However, there is a real possibility that the Christian SHROUD OF TURIN or Muslim KAABAH or Buddhist BUDDHA or Hindu RAM|SITA or, most surprisingly, the American FLAG could arise in a troubled world.

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Re 13:17 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.
It does not say, that those who use some money system have the mark of the beast. It says, only those who have (already) the mark of the beast can buy or sell.

Keeping cash as a currency could possibly prolong the time towards control. But having cash will not stop anything, nor will it allow you to circumvent God (or satan or man) and buy or sell. Imagine having a fistful of cash, going to buy food or gas, and the attendant says, sorry, we don't accept cash anymore.

Daryl:

I can't speak for "we," but personally I DON'T see this happening anytime soon, for the following reasons:

1. Too many religious groups hold too strongly to their own ideas, including which day they should worship on. The Jews worship on Saturday, and will never change. Muslims worship on Friday, and will never change. Both of these groups contain militant factions that will actively oppose a forced day of worship.

2. The economic engines that drive economies, and the societies in which they operate, will mitigate against a 1/7th-time shut-down of their money machines and the ensuing loss of revenue.

3. The Catholics don't care what day one worships on. In fact, they offer a Saturday Mass for those who find it more convenient/biblical/whatever. It is possible to be a Catholic in good standing and worship on Saturday.

4. The "conflict" between Saturday vs. Sunday is an SDA construct. It actually serves to divert attention from what is actually happening in the world and incapacitate those who are looking for Sunday laws as a sign of the end. Saturday vs Sunday is never mentioned or spelled out in Scripture. In reality we do not know what "...think to change times and laws..." refers to.

5. Those who think the Catholics are referred to in Revelation fail on two counts:
a. They misread, and then misapply, Scripture. More on this if asked.
b. They are unaware of, (or will not accept) both the nature of the Catholic church and/or the changes in it ushered in by Vatican II.

Just my 2-bits worth.