Over the Edge, March 10-24 2010 Page 7 The Mark Of The Beast? Everald Creary [Please note, with all certainty, that my primary aim isn't to defame any entity but to express opinions on a decades-old topic. Also, the truth that offends me may be the truth that saves me] Wow, a question that has been around more than decades? This phrase is mentioned in Revelation several times and even if we're not sure what it is, we certainly know it is not desirable because it erects one of God's sternest warning - "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 sulfur 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." I've heard several answers - some say a magnetic chip that will be placed in our hands or forehead. Others got jittery when 'bar code' technology came about. Yet still, there are some Christians that have chosen to ignore the warning completely along with the rest of Revelation because ‘it is not relevant, all we need to do is love Jesus’. I've heard some Say it is the false Christian Sabbath (Sunday) that has been implemented by the Catholic Church to supersede God's seventh day Sabbath because, "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." (C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895.) "Protestants ... accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change... But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that ... in observing Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the Church, the pope." (Our Sunday Visitor, February 5th, 1950.) I'll say — off the bat — at this time I'm unable to show directly from scripture what is the mark of the beast. However, | can say — from scripture — who will get it. ments and remain faithful to Jesus.." - (Revelation.) - basically, these do not get the mark of the beast. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Those that keep the com- mandments of God will NOT get the mark of the beast, that conclusion is reached purely from scriptural ev- idence. So, what are God's command- ments? Found in its pure format in Ex. 20: 2-17. Note carefully that these commandments - written by God's finger — have been altered by the Church because "Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; — she could not have sub- stituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” (Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doc- trinal Catechism; New York in 1857). "The Church, on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the Third Com- mandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's Day. ...." (The Catholic En- cyclopedia, Commandments of God, Volume IV, © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company, Online Edition © 1999 by Kevin Knight, Nihil Obstat - Remy Lafort, Censor Imprimatur - +John M. Far- ley, Archbishop of New York, page 153.) The fourth commandment — before altered by the Church — says “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy........... For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sab- bath day and made it holy." Revelation 14:7 says, "........Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." It seems that respect for the Sabbath day - the seventh day - is in memory of the God that created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. The natural course for those that "So the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's command- reject to “Fear God and give him glory...” is the mark of the beast. (Revelation 14:7-11). My conclusion. From scripture we are able to say that those that keep ALL the ten com- mandments of God will NOT get the mark of the beast. Maple Syrup News The news that lacks credibility and style Royal Family “Funks up” their Image Haakon Sullivan Columnist The United Kingdom is in turmoil since there was an an- nouncement from Buckingham Palace stating that due to the growing amount of apathy surrounding the royal family, the Queen and her family will be changing their image. From now on, they will be more “hip” to counter the lack of interest grow- ing among the citizens of the Commonwealth. During an appearance at a United Kingdom Economic Fu- tures meeting, Prince Charles made a speech stating as he hitched up his parachute pants, “We will get out of this... whack recession because we British are too damn slick to flip our lids and start noodlin’ around.” The audience then responded with a mixed reaction to his speech, with some looking obviously disgusted, some amused, and one yelling out, “Who the hell is that big eared punk?” (Gordon Brown later apologized for the outburst). As the Queen was touring Canada, she made an appear- ance at Parliament in a new dress that seemed to show off the “royal treasures” more than any other queen ever dared to do. “While | was listening to a groovy new record on the train, | was watching the smoking Canuck landscape. It blew my mind and | realized that the Commonwealth is in the groove thanks to you cool cats. It's been fun jamming with you.” Of course, Parliament was prorogued at the time so the janitors and Elizabeth May (who likes to play “parliamentarian” while no one is there) listened attentively to her speech. “| never really knew the Queen before this,” said one of the janitors as the Queen was driving away in her Porsche 911 blasting Linkin' Park. “She's one weird lady. Why was she here again?” The Director of Royal Public Relations, Thomas Black, was the one who designed the new image for the family and in an interview he told the press that this new direction for the royal family “rocked” and that all of the world will soon know “the chick with the wild crown.” He isn't exactly lying either. Polls show that the citizens of the Commonwealth nations are becoming more aware of the royal family. That is, 3 out of 4 Commonwealth residents now want to know what the royal family is up to and 1 out of 3 res- idents are now asking that the royal family start their own re- ality TV show. However, when asked about the duties of the royal family 1 out of 2 residents responded “Travel around the world for some reason” and 1 out of 3 residents responded “Who cares? They're funny!” When asked about his role in the new “hip” image the 27 year old Prince William responded, “I have nothing to do with this. | don't know these people.” (2<\ 5 things I’m in love with this week Stephanie McCullough Managing editor This is an opinion article, meaning get mad at me person- ally for anything nasty | say. And if you read my last one, tried the diet and fainted through your exam, please blame me. | should have added a disclaimer: Stephanie is not responsible for any joy or thoroughly unexpected sadness for her lovely readers trying out the cool things she is in love with. Tina Turner — She is fierce. She’s got legs. Let me say that silince, siilince we’ve been together... I'm addicted and it con- stantly plays on my Grooveshark, in addition to Roxanne by Sting and the Police. Curry Dishes — | love the coconut milk aspect of them, plus they are spicy yet not SPICY-OW-OW! Maybe I'll cook some- thing one of these days. Sassafras downtown makes the one that got me onto this “trend.” | suggest you try it. This also opens up my personal menu choice at restaurants. | used to be very selective at restaurants: nothing ethnic unless that was the particular theme of the restaurant, no rice because it may be undercooked (and | don’t like undercooked rice), no chicken because | can cook that at home (even though | never make chicken at home, chicken is just boring), plus no steak because it won’t be done exactly the way | want it. Like | was saying, I’ve relaxed my dining selectivity and | have accepted that chefs need to be respected more. Why would a restaurant put a poorly made ethnic entrée on the menu? Why would they serve undercooked rice? Steak is still a touchy subject for me. But hey, baby steps right! VictoriasSecret.com — Avant-garde swimsuits. Lingerie to lust over. Extremely hot models giving me body goals. How could you not? ABC Communications — They are doing weekly draws for car-detailing packages all this month on Fridays. Guess who is the bright one that thought that one up? Yes, me, with the filthy Car. The Rum Jungle — it was just stellar receiving watered- down-Vodka in my Rum and Coke, and watered-down-Vodka in my Rye and Ginger. What can | say? | absolutely love Vodka (NOT) and it’s even better when it’s watered down improving the consistency like no other (NOT), plus you really spoil me when you put Blue Bols in my Vodka Cran, because you quite obviously improved the drink (NOT). Oh Rum Jungle, you are such a Saint. ATTENTION ALL PARTY PLANNERS: stop using the Rum Jungle. Just because there have been no shootings this year doesn’t mean it’s a party hub.