In the days of America’s westward expansion in the land God had given the descendants of Joseph’s son Manasseh, ranching was an important part of the nation’s culture. Most cattle ranches were found in the Southwest where large expanses of land were available. People living in other parts of the nation depended on cattle ranchers to meet their need for beef for eating and hydes for making leather goods. To expedite the cattle transportation process railroad lines were constructed which connected the rest of the nation to the American Southwest. Cowboys would annually drive their boss’ cattle to a centralized location, called a railhead. There, businessmen from across the nation would buy the cattle and ship them north, east and west where they would eventually find their way to where butchers and leather goods makers eagerly awaited their arrival.

In those days a rancher’s cattle were identified by his brand. Each rancher had his own unique brand which he burned into the hyde of each animal. No two were alike. This “branding” also applied mentally to the men who worked for the owner. Over time ranchers and their workers developed a unique relationship. Each was dependent on the other for survival. However, as is the case in all multi-person situations, there could be only one boss. The ranch owner made the rules and demanded that his employees obeyed them. He did not suggest, he commanded. Anyone who would not obey his commands was fired. Cattle owners were known to be no-nonsense types who demanded both obedience and loyalty from those who worked for them. Conversely, he was equally loyal to his men. Many a cowboy lost his life protecting what did not belong to him. They were their boss’ men–they “rode his brand.” Their status, their identification within the society was determined by the brand they “rode.”

Within this system stood a lone man whose job it was to see to it that the cowboys knew what was demanded of them and did it. This man was known as the “straw boss.” Today he would be called a foreman. As the representative of the cattle owner, it was his responsibility to oversee the operation of the ranch. If the straw boss did not do his job, the job did not get done. Like the rancher, these men tended to be very tough, very demanding individuals. And like their bosses, they were also very loyal to those under them. The straw boss rode the brand and made sure that everyone else followed his example. The rancher depended on this man–the ultimate rider of the brand–to get the job done and done correctly.

This Old West brand-owner-worker identification system has a similar application in the spiritual realm. The difference is that in this system there are only two “brands” which represent two “bosses”–God and Satan. Their respective workers are identified by the “brand” they exhibit in their daily lives. Each human being wears a “brand.” Each person exhibits either God’s brand or Satan’s brand. Therefore each salvation seeker must ask himself three questions: Who is my boss? What is his brand? Do I ride his brand?

Within modern professing Christendom many people use certain symbols /brands designed to “prove” their allegiance to the God of the Holy Bible. They use such items in spite of His plainly written condemnation of the practice as recorded in Exodus 20:3-5 where He prohibits His people from owning and using “graven (man-made) images” in their worship of Him. He plainly states that by doing so one is practicing idolatry in that the image replaces Him as God. Note that He made no exceptions to the command. Man’s  purpose for using such symbols/brands is irrelevant. His command is: DO NOT DO IT. PERIOD. When shown what He says concerning disobedience to this command, I have had people say: “But that’s not why I do it.” Human reasoning means nothing to God. He commands; his people obey. End of conversation. What we must understand is that owning and displaying such “brands” as crosses, fish symbols, statues, pictures, carvings, etchings of Jesus, Mary, the apostles, etc. is an abomination to Him. He plainly states that they represent “… other gods before Me.” We can serve only one master. The one whose brand we display in our daily lives tells those around us which master we serve.

Other types of “brands” or symbols are used in man’s idolatrous worship of the Biblical God. As I have proven on this website and my YouTube site, the observance of the Sunday Sabbath, Christmas and Easter are acts of defiance (idolatry) in His eyes. God’s church (egglesia–called out ones) must “come out from among them” (people who practice idolatry) and be separate from them (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). Here He lumps all such idolaters into one entity and calls it “that unclean thing.” Why are they unclean? BECAUSE THEY BEAR SATAN’S BRAND. By doing so they announce to the world that they worship, obey and serve God’s arch enemy. L.J.