n this matter of a baptismal sign. He makes a sacrament of it (i.
e. an oath or covenant of fidelity.) To show their allegiance to his
infernal lordship, Anti-christ's subjects must now wear his brand so
that it can never be erased or removed, and his chaplain ("The False
Prophet") "_causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the
poor, and the free and the bond, to receive_"--literal translation--"_a
stamp or brand, on their right hand, or on their forehead_."

The preaching of the cross, of Jesus Christ as the World's Redeemer,
the putting away of sin, and the gift of eternal life by faith in God's
word of grace, the baptism into the name of Christ, had, for several
decades, been growingly scouted as "foolishness." "An obsolete
doctrine," all that was voted. "Men are far too intelligent to be
bound by such a Bible creed as that. New times need new doctrines,"
etc., etc.

The twenty years immediately preceding the manifestation of the "Man of
Sin," had been characterized by such utterances, and many others
infinitely more impious, blasphemous, and senseless. "_But after the
world by its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through
the foolishness of the thing preached, to save them that believe_ . . .
Because THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD is WISER THAN MEN." But when
Anti-christ shall promulgate his devil-doctrines, senseless,
idolatrous, humiliating, the bulk of men of every grade and class, will
suffer themselves to be branded like cattle in a round-up. Believing
"the lie," deluded by that universal lie, they will have no choice,
save to be branded, or to die. And to yield themselves to the infernal
brand will mean to be cut off for ever from God.

"_If any man worship the Beast and his image, and receive his mark in
his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His
indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the
smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no
rest day or night, who worship the Beast and his image_, AND WHOSOEVER
RECEIVETH THE MARK OF HIS NAME." (Rev. xiv. 9-11.)

Simultaneous with the beginning of the branding, the two witnesses had
taken up a position close by the branders, and had persistently
witnessed to the near coming of the Lord in judgment upon those who
wore th