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.

[goat granny]

I have wondered if the mark could be put on babies who had no choice in the matter, unless they are removed from the earth...

[diverteach]

I firmly believe the governments around the world, not just the US are purposely driving their economies into ruin. Through limitless borrowing and spending. They’ve gotten people used to a certain style of living, comfortable for the most part. The only way to bring about these peoples utopian vision is to destroy the current system. Obama is undeniably doing his part.

I believe that it will be the US economy that will be the first domino. When we go down so will the rest. Our economies are too interconnected.

When that happens the despair left in the crashes wake will cause people to revert into survival mode. Forget the luxuries. It won’t be pretty and this will be global.

There will come along a politician, most likely from the EU {revived roman empire} who’ll enthrall the masses. This is THE one thing we can all learn from obamas election. This guy is going to seem to have ALL the answers and a solution to fixing the economy, and it will bring about peace from the chaos. It WILL be cashless {hello bitcoin} enter THE MARK. People will absolutely receive it, there will be very little choice for most. Those that refuse it and try to be self sufficient hunting and growing food and living in the hills will be rounded up. The technology for all of this to happen is already here and just about in place.

[Star Traveler]

Not according to the language used. I’m not a reader of the original languages, but I have heard those who are (and I’m talking about well-known and trusted people) who have explained that from the original language.

[Star Traveler]

How does a baby worship the beast? That’s the question - which is also the answer.

[Ezekiel]

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

1. Elevating beast.gov to supreme moral authority - e.g. debasing individual and societal values to conform with government's illegitimate power to redefine and remake the foundations of marriage, family, charity, love, etc.

2. Loving, embracing, and making lies.

3. Choosing to be deceived and then being "shocked" and angered that reality couldn't be manipulated and crafted into one's own image. No change of heart, but rather a doubling down on arrogance and falsehoods.

These are fundamental character traits. Obama is making sure nobody is left on the fence. Most have chosen up sides and are already marked as to whether they default to loving lies or loving the truth.

Ezekiel 9:3-6

3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Perhaps a mark of the beast is simply empty space, a big fat zero, a stamp to stamp *out* information, a dead zone. Sterile, devoid of life.

Like the wheat and the tares:

Matthew 13:26-30

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Empty Heads Held High

A person in whom there is arrogance will ultimately be diminished.... "They will wither like the tops of the ears of grain" (Job 24:24)..... It is like the man who enters his field and picks the tall ones. (Sotah 5a)

A father and son were walking through a field of golden wheat at harvest time. "Father" said the boy, "why do some of the stalks stand tall and straight, while others bend their heads?"

"The bent stalks" replied the father, "are full of ripe, healthy kernels, the weight pulls them down. They are like humble people full of wisdom and good deeds. The stalks that hold their heads high are empty, like worthless people who act superior."

Our Gemara, too, likens the arrogant to tall stalks of grain. A farmer walking through a field of full, bent stalks will uproot and discard any tall, empty ones so that they will not be harvested together with the rest.

http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com/2010/10/empty-heads-held-high.html

Lying, Empty Head Held High

The stalks that hold their heads high are empty, like worthless people who act superior.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Ah, glad you asked.

666 is a reference to the number of silver talons that King Solomon raised in taxes from the people of Israel after he turned from God. This represented a huge amount.

God warned them about this.

So an alternate interpretation would be that the mark of the beast would be that he would place huge taxes on his people.

[Ramius]

The only thong I’m sure of is that everybody who thinks they know will be wrong.

[Maudeen]

For such a time as this . . . http://www.patburt.com/

[Mortrey]

“Lying, Empty Head Held High

The stalks that hold their heads high are empty, like worthless people who act superior. “

Thank you for this comment-—it’s extremely thought provoking.
The world seems full of empty heads these days.

[The_Reader_David]

You’ve come to the same conclusion I have: if it doesn’t have a neural interface that mars the connection between the deiform soul with which we were created and the mind and body, it doesn’t have the properties Scripture attributes to the Mark. Folks who fret that RFID chips will be turned into the Mark of the Beast don’t seem to have noticed that one can repent of being “chipped” by having the force of will to apply a pen-knife to remove the chip (or the lesser forces of will to submit to someone else removing it — and less fortitude is needed if anesthetics can be procured.)

[redleghunter]

Was the message in English?

[gattaca]

I’ve heard it proposed that it might have something to do with the day of the week we worship.

[Born to Conserve]

“you forgot “M” which is 1000.”

No, I didn’t.

[Born to Conserve]

“Do you have a source?”

Not an external source.

[Cvengr]

I believe you are on the right track.

Before he is revealed, there will come a Great Apostasy or falling away.

Technology has already presented neurological grafting and programming of chips. Those in the hand provide immediate dexterity and physical manipulation skills. Those in the head afford immediate gain of academic training.

As 2 way communication devices, they also would have the ability to project a voice into the recipients’ perceptions. They also might be used to interrupt ‘forbidden’ thinking processes.

God’s solution and provision for our continued fellowship with Him and the continuing work of God the Holy Spirit in every believer while in fellowship with Him, is premised upon our facing Him (turning back to Him in our thinking, metanoia) and confessing our known and unknown sins to Him, through faith in what Christ provided on the Cross.

If we sin and fail to turn back to Him and confess those sins through faith in Him, we don’t return to fellowship with Him.

If this happened to everybody, there would be a Great Apostasy whenever we happened to sin.

If this mark is the method to interrupt our ability to return to Him, then many things in Scripture make very clear sense. It would explain why future world leaders would exclaim, ‘who can oppose him’. It would be an abomination causing desolation. It would explain why our Lord and Savior warned us millennium in advance of this horrid situation. It would explain why such a mark would be more heinous than even the Holocaust. It also is consistent with us knowing that even after the day of the Lord, we will have a Millennium rule by a rod of iron with Christ as the King sitting on the throne of David. Unlike this present age, God the Holy Spirit will not indwell Christians, but in that age He will indwell the Jew. That remnant is preserved.

During that age, the thinking of not only men, but all Creatures will change. The technology will remain, but now be controlled by humans by the Son of God. It explains a return to the sacrificial system of worship in that age.

It also explains why believers should never take the mark, even if threatened with capital punishment. It’s consequences are far worse than death. It’s an eternal separation from God. Never take the mark of the beast.

[jespasinthru]

If there was a Mark Of The Beast, a lot of people would be forced to accept it because they have no choice. The government already controls their lives. Like people in jail or prison. And the elderly poor in state-run nursing homes. Children trapped in foster care. People on government assistance. Government workers at all levels. And of course, every single member of our Armed Forces. These groups make up a significant portion of the population, and the government has already assumed the right to tell them what to do. And let’s not forget all the dimwitted sheeple who will be convinced that it’s “cool”. Like Obama voters.

[StonyBurk]

You may find the cd offered free from shepherds Chapel— Gravette Ark.helpful.Pastor Arnold Murray does a fair job explaining the Mark of the Beast. And I agree with him the passage was not intended to be taken literally but spoke of the symbolic nature —of doing the work of Satan(Hand) of thinking contrary to Gods will(forehead) something to consider.You must decide for yourself.

[RegulatorCountry]

I wouldn’t pretend to understand precisely how such a thing would cut off an individual from God, but the mark is clearly described as doing so. Individuals taking it would be lost to Him literally, so there could be no salvation for those who do so. It does make clear sense of quite a bit of prophecy that has been subject to widely varying interpretations. I’ve not gotten drawn into the sometimes vehement debates regarding timing of the “rapture” or removal of the body of believers at the time of the end, other than to agree that this will occur at some point according to scripture. I’ve tried to mentally prepare myself for the possibility that I and those I love may have to endure tribulation for some period of time, and possibly even die for our beliefs. But this is really awful to contemplate, and has me hoping that the pre-trib people are right.

[RoosterRedux]

Just a small point, but here is some of the original language...

Rev 13:16
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:

Rev 13:17
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.

Notice that the translator stated that the mark is not "on" the right hand but "in" the right hand (though the word "in" in the original text, ἐπί or epi, can mean "upon"). And the greek word used for "right hand" is dexios or δεξιός meaning right hand or metaph -- place of honor or authority (G1188).

Same for forehead.

The mark is not "on" the forehead (metōpon in Greek or μέτωπον -- G3359) but "in" in the forehead.

Keep in mind that this is the same language and the same word used for the Mark of God "in" the forehead of believers in Rev 7:3, Rev 9:4, and Rev 14:1.

The fact that we believers do not have a visible "Mark" on our foreheads would lead us to believe the same will be so with the mark of the Beast.

[spacejunkie2001]

Matthew 13:30; we are ALL here til the Harvest. Don’t let yourself be deceived or you won’t be prepared.