Be Clear About The Mark of The Beast

http://billrandles.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/be-clear-about-the-mark-rev-14/ ^ | 12-06-13 | Bill Randles

[pastorbillrandles]

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thess 2:11-12)

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 14:9-11)

A few days ago, in a blog article I commented upon the trend among many among Evangelicals and Pentecostals of succumbing to evil in so many current controversial issues. If these religious leaders can find ways to unite with Islam (Chrislam) and can seek to be reconciled with unrepentant and practicing Sodomites, (N.A.L.T.) in the face of the clear New Testament warnings, What else remains of the Christian faith is there to deny?

I then posited that the next thing we knew there would be those among us who would rise up to assure Christians that it would be alright to take the Mark of the Beast.

I am appalled to have to report to you that in the responses to my last article, I was informed that this is already happening, there are already prominent Christian teachers on record who do advise that it is possible to take the Mark of the Beast and yet to be saved after having done so!

Here is a Link to a discussion between Brannon Howse, Jimmy Deyoung, about a teaching Q/A by John MacArthur, in which all agree that it is possible to take the Mark of the Beast and still be saved! Outrage;John MacArthur

I have long respected MacArthur, and hope that he will soon retract his rash and irresponsible teaching on this point. It is shocking that a minister who is otherwise so well-known for his respectful treatment of scripture and his bold stand for Jesus would be teaching this!* MacArthur has long taught through scripture and his Grace to You program has been a source of feeding for hundreds of thousands of God’s sheep.

To be fair to MacArthur, he isn’t cavalier about taking the Mark. He merely denies that taking the Mark is an irrevocable and unforgivable action. Here is GTY’s official response to those who object to MacArthur’s teaching on the Mark,

Unforgivable? by Phil Johnson

Several years ago in a live Q&A session, someone asked John MacArthur if taking the mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation would be an unpardonable sin. His answer, in short, was no. Though there is a stern warning against taking the mark of the Beast in Revelation 14, the sin is not categorically said to be unpardonable. (That would contradict Matthew 12:31.) The point of the severe language in Revelation 14 is to make clear what an utterly reprehensible sin it will be to swear an oath of willful loyalty to Antichrist… (click link for the rest of the statement).

What are we to make of this confusion about something so seemingly so clearly taught in scripture?

* We must be very near the time of the test warned of in Revelation 13, the imposition of the Religio/Political/Economic system which will impose on all, the Mark of the Beast.

This is what christians have been conditioned for in the countless accommodations by so many leaders to other things clearly rejected in scripture, such as union with false religion and accommodation by the church of sexual perversions, or they dare to lead congregations to reject things emphatically taught in scripture, such as Hell and final judgment..

But bold pseudo leaders leaders rise up and decide (for all of us) that the time for our (the church’s) ignorance, and prejudice is over, it is time to be responsible and for the church to get with the times, and accommodate what scripture clearly forbids.

Acceptance of the Mark of the Beast is just the last in a long line of this kind of leadership.

* We need to be clear about the Mark of the Beast, we can’t afford to allow any confusion about it.

God so wants us to be aware of the danger of accepting the Mark, He will commission Angels in the last days, to warn people of the eternal and irrevocable danger to all who would take the Mark of the Beast.

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 14:9-11)

How could God be any clearer? There will be astonishing pressures upon people; buying and selling in the conventional way will become impossible without the Mark, therefore people will look about for any kind of justification for violating this clear Word of scripture, just as some churches found ways to justify rejecting the Biblical teachings on Hell, Homosexuality, and prohibitions of interfaith unity.

Perhaps this is why the Lord resorts to such etra-ordinary means, Angelic Heralds flying through the sky , warning of the everlasting punishment on all those who took the Mark of the Beast.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.(Revelation 20:4)

*The Mark of the Beast is something to Overcome…

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.(Revelation 15:2)

Prepare now to reject the Mark with all of your being! There are some things worse than death, such as everlasting judgment.

The scripture talks about “receiving the Mark”, thus it is not imposed on anyone, all are given a clear choice to accept or reject it. The Mark of the Beast is the final watershed, man’s last chance to take God’s side or the devil’s. I hope and pray this encourages much conversation and prayer.

[gspurlock]

In this current society, what actions specifically constitute taking the mark of the beast?

[steve86]

Having a Paypal membership is one /

[saleman]

Well, if you take it literally, then it’s a mark, on your head or hand. So, no actions other than the mark. And I haven’t yet heard angels on high warning about the mark. So, as I have seen scripture revealed literally then I’m thinking that no actions replace the actual mark.

Make no mistake. It will come.

[Star Traveler]

There are none.

You don’t have anything which exists today in which there are TWO CONDITIONS to be met — (1) a mark [as described in the Bible] which (2) signifies and is affirmation of the worship of the beast.

You don’t know what that mark is and you have no identification of the beast. For such a SEVERE PENALTY God will make sire that it’s clear concerning what the mark is and that mark is linked to the worship of the beast and that you can clearly identify the beast.

One additional thing that the Bible says is that without the mark you will not be able to buy or sell anything.

There is absolutely nothing that meets those criteria today.

[M-cubed]

Well, if you take it literally, then it’s a mark, on your head or hand <<

Just guessing here... but could “head” mean how you think?....and “hand” mean your actions?

[Mrs.Z]

The mark is either the number or the name of the beast (Rev. 13:17) which will be easy to talk people into just to make sure their financial identities are not stolen.

More worrisome is verse 15 “caused to worship”.

That will not be forgiven because those who do it will be under the “strong delusion” spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:11 and will never repent.

[Former Fetus]

Don’t worry...yet! But anybody left on earth after the Rapture should ask himself that question.

[Born to Conserve]

I am clear. Christian Jews were fomenting revolt against the Romans, and warned that if you participate in the Roman economy, and use the Roman numbering system, specifically, “D”, “C”, “L”, “X”, “V”, and “I”, you would be a very bad person. DCLXVI = 666.

[Star Traveler]

There are two things that go together ... look at this ...

” ... worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

That’s joined by the word “and” - which means both go together. It’s not an “or” statement. And also remember one other condition that goes with this - one can neither buy or sell without this.

SO ... when you see ALL THAT coming together in one set if circumstances, then you’ll have it - along with those angels giving a prior warning.

I always say, “I haven’t seen those angels yet “... :-) ...

[Gamecock]

Tithing chips implanted in the worshipper.

[spacejunkie2001]

The rapture happens at the same time Christ returns. No one is going to escape the tribulation where we’re faced with agreeing with or denying the beast.

[Secret Agent Man]

you forgot “M” which is 1000.

[Former Fetus]

Sorry, pre-trib here!

[Mortrey]

“receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand”;

IN the forehead, meaning no knowledge of the beast because of not researching Scripture’s warnings??—(or following weak pastors/teachers??)

IN the hand, meaning doing the work of the beast? (helping satan to deceive others, knowingly or not??)

Pastor Bill, what do you think?

[Albion Wilde]

Christian Jews were fomenting revolt against the Romans, and warned that if you participate in the Roman economy, and use the Roman numbering system, specifically, “D”, “C”, “L”, “X”, “V”, and “I”, you would be a very bad person. DCLXVI = 666.

Very intriguing. Do you have a source?

[circlecity]

Forehead and/or hand = thoughts and/or actions?

[yellowdoghunter]

Yes, it will come.

[RegulatorCountry]

It's intended to be visible, imho. The mark causes all who take it to worship the beast, so it may well be that in giving over volition or choice in worshipping, in order to avoid deprivation and becoming a pariah, the recipient damns himself. Taking the mark as a sin would in and of itself be forgivable with sincere repentance and asking forgiveness of God, but none of this would be forthcoming, so there will be no forgiveness because no one who takes it will be capable of repentance. Rather Borg-like, if a pop culture science fiction reference makes the implications of this view any clearer. Cyborg, trans-human, etc.

[redleghunter]

Thanks again for a great piece pastor Bill.

The way I always read literally is that those who take it make a choice and reject the testimony of the two witnesses. I see it as how the Pharisees rejected Christ.

I am surprised at MacArthur’s answer. As well as Howse. MacArthur always struck me as uncomfortable discussing Revelation. I could be wrong.

Then again MacArthur could have discussed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit in more detail.