cms@gatech.edu (10/07/90)
On the number of the beast discussion: Perhaps this has been said
before, however, it bears repeating that slaves, in the New Testament
era and other times, were marked or branded with tatoos or scars
signifying to whom they belonged. The marks were placed on the thigh
or wrist or sometimes forehead; in the Old Testament, the ears of
Hebrew slaves were pierced. The Apostle Paul called himself a slave
of Jesus Christ and he meant this literally. Paul even said that he
had been branded or marked by Christ with the stigmata signifying
God's ownership of him. God was his master and he was Christ's slave.
The mark of the beast signified that those so marked were slaves of
sin or the devil and were in his power; those marked with the mark of
Christ, as in Confirmation when the bishop marks the Confirmand with
holy oil in the sign of the Cross, are branded as slaves of God and
saved from destruction. The mark of the beast signifies eternal
sickness and death; the mark of Christ signifies health and eternal
life. Francis, who restored Christ's church, was marked with the
holy stigmata physically; we are all marked with the stigmata
spiritually who believe in the holy Name of Jesus Christ.
--
Sincerely,
Cindy Smith
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