THE MARK
OF THE BEAST and
THOSE THAT DO KNOW THEIR GOD
I was unsure whether to continue
with Endtime studies or move on to another topic, but because we are living in
perilous times and can see signs that the antichrist will soon be revealed and
the implementation of the mark will soon be introduced, I felt it imperative to
continue with this line of study.
Many people realize
that it cannot be very long until this prophecy will be fulfilled. We can
clearly see that governments and corporations around the world are pushing us
in that direction rapidly. But many
think it won’t be implemented until after the Church is raptured out. Those
that adhere to that belief could end up taking the Mark without realizing it,
thinking ‘there’s no way that could be it.
The Church is still here.’ That is why we teach what the Bible says
concerning WHEN the rapture will occur and what lies ahead.
What Do We Know About the Mark?
Revelation
13:16-18 says….And he causeth ALL both small and great,
rich and poor, free and bond,
to receive a MARK in their right hand or in their foreheads.
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had THE MARK,
or the NAME OF THE BEAST, or the NUMBER of his name.
Here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six
(666).
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Definitions:
Mark = a scratch or etching, i.e.
a stamp, a badge of servitude (G5480)
Name = a ‘name’ (literally or
figuratively) (authority or character) (G3686)
Number = a number (as reckoned up)
(G706)
I don’t claim to understand fully how
it will be implemented and what each mean or how it will be used… I do believe
it will be presented as something ‘for the greater good.’
Whatever it turns out to be, the main
thing is that the Bible issues a dire warning against taking the mark and
worshiping the beast and its image…..
Revelation 14:9-11
And the third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice,
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 nor night,
who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 16 reveals there will be
vials of God’s wrath that will be poured out upon those who had the mark of the
beast and upon them which worshipped his image.
This is only for those who take the mark and worship the
beast.
This is not to cause us to fear but rather to alert us to
Watch and pray!
And pray for and reach for your unsaved family and friends!
Time is running out!
But
the good news is God’s Word assures us….
The people that do know their God shall be strong
and do exploits in those days (Daniel 11:32).
Do
you know your God? Are you walking in
the power of His might?
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might.
God
wants to work mightily through each and every one of us who are Born Again!
We
are going to have to trust Him like never before in these Endtime hours.
We are going to have to learn how to walk in the Spirit, and not in the flesh.
We are going to have to learn how to pray and operate in the Gifts of the
Spirit.
That is God’s will when He gives a person the Holy Ghost…a vessel He can use.
God
will give us patience and strength to face the persecution we are going to face
in these Last Days, but we need to be walking in the will of God and keep His
commandments.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience
of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus.
HERE ARE
THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS! Those are the ones who will be able to stand!
In this end time hours, we need to do as Ezra did and prepare our hearts
so we’ll be sensitive to hear God’s Voice and what the Spirit is saying to the
Church in these last days.
Ezra 7:10 - Ezra had PREPARED
HIS HEART
(1) to SEEK the
Law of the Lord,
(2) and TO DO IT,
(3) and to TEACH
in Israel statutes and judgments.
PREPARE means ‘to make something ready
for use’ and also ‘make someone ready or able to do or deal with something’
Are you making your heart ready
for God to use?
Are you making yourself ready to
be able to deal with whatever God asks of you?
SEEK the Law of the Lord means ‘to go in search of: look for, to try
to discover, or seek advice’
Are you searching the Scriptures
daily?
Are you trying to discover what
God’s Word instructs or requires of you?
Are you asking God for His
advice?
Are you open to listen to what
God is saying to do or not do?
TO DO IT
Are you willing to do whatever God
asks or requires of you?
Remember the old slogan ‘Just do
it!’?
We only have a little time left. Is there anything worth being lost over?
Is there anything worth in this
world that’s not worth giving up in comparison
to eternity and all Jesus did for
you and me?
Can you truly pray and say
‘whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord, that’s
what I’ll be willing to
do’
If not, we need to go back to
the first and prepare our hearts through prayer and
fasting.
TEACH GOD’S STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS
God
doesn’t want us to be a novice concerning His Word.
We are to STUDY to show
ourselves approved unto God.
2 Tim 2:15
Study to show
thyself approved unto God, a workman (teacher) that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing (expounding) the Word of Truth.
God wants each of us to be able
to teach others about His Word as we grow in the wisdom, knowledge and
understanding of His ways.
The more time we spend with Him,
the more we’ll get to know Him.
The more we get to know Him, the more we’ll know about Him.
The more we know about Him, the more we can tell others about Him.
All of us need to be telling others about Jesus and trying to
lead them to Him.
Jesus saved us so we can reach for and try to save others.
It’s harvest time – in the
natural season and in the spiritual season.
Are you praying to be a laborer in the harvest? Jesus said in Luke 10:2…
The Harvest
truly is great, but the labourers are few:
Pray ye therefore the Lord of
the harvest, that He would send forth labourers
into His harvest.
John 4:35
Lift up your eyes, and look on
the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
These things need to be our focus in this endtime hours…
To know our God!
To walk in the power of His
might!
To Prepare our hearts through
prayer and fasting and Bible reading!
To Seek God’s laws and learn HIS
WAYS, not our ways!
To just do it!
And to teach others about
Jesus! Be a witness for Him!
Because in the end when we finally stand before Him, we want
to hear Him say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter in!” and not
“depart from Me, I never knew you.”
There is nothing worth missing heaven for.
There is nothing worth going to hell over.
We’ve got to be ready so we can stand and make it all the way Home!
