Cain’s Mark

The ‘Mark of Cain,’ in the Book of Genesis is revealed in Scripture. It is God’s testimony that reveals and helps us understand the ‘mark of the beast,’ in the Book of Revelation.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:3-5)

His Way of Worship

Adam’s sons brought their gifts before the LORD. Cain brought the fruits of the earth, whereas Abel offered up a lamb. When the LORD accepted Abel’s offering, Cain set his mind to do evil. When the LORD counselled Cain to repent and accept correction, he rejected God’s counsel, and murdered his brother.

This same envy and violence was in the Pharisee’s. Men who worshipped God in vain, under a law they altered, so as to give them control over men. Yet they recognised in Jesus a truth that set men free, and so demanded he die. As Cain refused to bow to God’s will, and then killed his brother to establish his way, so men seek to establish their own righteousness and tenants of worship.

In the Book of Revelation, the Spirit of Truth, reveals a ‘Nicolaitan’ spirit in our churches and in us. Nicolaitan means to conquer the laity, to control the people. This conquering spirit, sits in the heart of the beast of the earth, who will make us bow to his image. The Apostle Paul by the same Spirit of Christ, said of this ‘man of sin’;

..who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2Thes 2:4)

So, the same willful disobedience and vain worship seen in Cain, is evident in the Pharisee’s, our churches, and in the beast of the earth, the man of sin.

The Mark of Cain

When the LORD punished Cain, he bound him in a curse and sent him out from his presence. When Cain begged mercy, the LORD set a mark upon him to protect him. This ‘mark,’ warned those who found Cain, not to kill him, lest the LORD’s sevenfold vengeance fall upon them. So Cain and his seed, found refuge in the Law, in the land of Nod. (H5113 Nod = exile, to wander)

And Cain said to the LORD, my punishment is greater than I can bear… I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every One that finds me shall slay me. And the LORD said to him, therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a ¹mark on Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. (Genesis 4:13-15)

This ‘mark and its vengeance’ is found in the Law handed to Israel; …thou shalt not kill.

The Mark of The Law

The ¹mark placed upon Cain was part of a greater ¹sign Moses told the tribes of Israel; would be a ¹sign upon their hands and foreheads. The LORD’s Commandment below defines and marks God’s Israel. This is the sign of the ‘clean hand’ shown to Moses.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:.. And thou shalt bind them for a ¹sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (Deut 6:4-8)

H226 (¹Sign/¹Mark) BDB Definition: (a) distinguishing mark; (b) remembrance; (c) miraculous sign; (d) a warning…

Its Sevenfold Vengeance

The LORD’s sevenfold vengeance is bound in the law should we choose to reject, or modify it. In the Book of Leviticus, the LORD seeks to correct those who reject, or tamper with his commandments. (Compare too the, ‘sword to avenge the quarrel of his covenant,’ with Revelation 19:11-16)

[a small portion]… And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me; then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when you are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. (Leviticus 26:23-25)

When we reject God’s Commandments, or modify them to fit our interpretation of Scripture, then the error of Cain’s disobedience ‘marks’ us. This is the sign of the ‘unclean hand’ shown to Moses.

The Mark of JESUS Name

As the Law is a mark upon our right hand and foreheads, so the ‘Name of the Father,‘ marks the foreheads of an Israel, born of JESUS Faith in the Book of Revelation.

And I heard the number of them which were ¹sealed and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:4)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

G4972-4973 (¹Sealed) to stamp (with a private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication to keep secret, to attest: – to seal up.

The ‘Name of the Father’ is JESUS. The Prophet Isaiah, declared the Messiah would be called the Everlasting Father. When this child was born they named him JESUS. When JESUS commanded his disciples to baptize in the name of; ‘the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,’ they all baptized in JESUS name. The Apostle Peter also confirmed JESUS is both LORD and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

And to those Pharisee’s among us JESUS says: I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: (John 5:43)

Its Seven Plagues

In this Gospel there are also seven plagues that fall upon those who alter, or make void the ‘name and the Gospel of JESUS’. The plagues of this sevenfold vengeance unfold in the Book of Revelation. The first of these plagues fall upon those who have taken the mark of the beast. (Revelation 16:1-7)

For I (Jesus) testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

The Mark – The Name

Scripture Interprets Scripture: The great commandment defines God’s Israel. Her tribes hear his voice; Hear O Israel, the LORD thy God is One LORD. This faith marks the LORD’S people in their hands and foreheads. It is the sign of the clean hand shown to Moses, and the ‘seal’ of JESUS name upon His Israel.

And once we understand God’s mark and name, we can then recognise the ‘beasts mark and name’ for what they are: the creeds, traditions and church names which define our beliefs and mark us before God. They too are a sign upon our hands and foreheads. The sign of the unclean hand shown to Moses.