The Scriptures Are Amazing

This article has a few current events, but it is mostly about showing that the Scriptures are amazing.

First, here are four amazing things that happened on the exact day that the Bible said they would happen when Jesus came the first time:

From the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the Triumphal Entry of Messiah, there were 173,880 days (69 Weeks of years or 483 years; Dan. 9:25; Neh. 2:1-8). From the Triumphal Entry of Jesus as the Lamb of God (Isa. 53) to the death of Jesus as the Lamb of God on Passover, there were 5 days (Nisan 10 to Nisan 14; John 12:1, 12). From the death of Jesus on Passover to the resurrection of Jesus on the Feast of First Fruits, there were 3 days (Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19). From the resurrection of Jesus on the Feast of First Fruits to the beginning of the Church on Pentecost, there were 50 days (Lev. 23:15-16). No one but God could reveal in writing the exact day that these events would happen before they happened.

Second, here are some amazing facts regarding Bible prophecy (Jesus not only told us to watch for His Second Coming, He also gave us some things to watch for):

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great statue (Dan. 2) is a Gentile timeline from Babylon to the Second Coming and Millennial Kingdom, and history has moved from the top of the head to the beginning of the toes on the statue (near the end of the feet; EU, USMCA, etc.). Jesus told us to watch Israel, and for 1,878 years (70 A.D. to 1948) there was no nation of Israel to watch, but our generation can watch Israel. Jesus said the generation that sees Israel growing will not pass away until everything is fulfilled, and our generation has been watching Israel grow for 72 years (Matt. 24:34). Gabriel told Daniel that the Antichrist will rise to power in a reunited Europe, and Europe has been reunited (the EU; Dan. 9:26). Daniel said Ten kings will rise before the Antichrist appears, and the WEF wants to replace the U.S. with a handful of nations perhaps as soon as 2021 (Dan. 7:7-8, 24). Gabriel said the Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a covenant with many, and it looks like many nations will make a covenant with Israel soon (Dan. 9:27). The world government will be anti-God, and the Democrats left God out of their party platform (Rev. 13:4-6). The world government will reject the Scriptures, and there has been a relentless effort to bring down the heads of the only two nations (Israel and the U.S.) that were founded on the Scriptures. The Antichrist will be supported by a False Prophet, and Pope Francis supports world government and world religion (Rev. 13). God said Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others will attack Israel in the latter days and latter years, and it looks like this could happen soon (Ezek. 38:8, 16). There will be a system that will let everyone on earth see the resurrection of the Two Witnesses and the Second Coming of Jesus, and that system is being put in place by Elon Musk now (Rev. 11:9-12). Capitalism will be done away with under a world government, and there will be a meeting next May to discuss the end of capitalism (Biden supports the end of capitalism). There will be a world government after the Rapture, and the UN plans to have a world government up and running by 2030 (World government is why the effort to remove Trump has been so strong and unrelenting). The Jewish Temple will exist during the Tribulation Period, and the recent peace treaties between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE say all faiths should be allowed to worship on the Temple Mount. Third, it is possible (emphasis on possible) that Peter said the Church will be here 2,000 years.

Peter was a student of the Old Testament, and it is obvious that Peter was familiar with the prophet Joel’s writings (Joel 2:28-29). In the book of Acts, Luke wrote, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). A crowd gathered, and some accused Peter and the others of being drunk, “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:13-18). Was Peter talking about 24-hour days, or 1,000-year days? What did Peter mean when he said we are in the last days? Know that it was Peter that said, “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (II Pet. 3:8). This is partly why some early Church leaders (Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and others) believed the Church Age would last for 2,000 years (2 God-Days on the Gentile calendar). The 2,000 years are almost up, and our generation is seeing all of the prophecies coming on the scene. Fourth, here are some amazing things that show that the Tribulation Period is shaping up:

The rider on the white horse is the Antichrist, and he will bring in a world government through deceit (Rev. 6:1-2), and the U.S. election could be an effort to bring in a world government through deceit. The rider on the black horse is hyper-inflation and economic collapse (Rev. 6:5-6), and trillion-dollar stimulus packages are leading the U.S. toward hyper-inflation and economic collapse. The rider on the pale horse is global pestilence, hunger and more (Rev. 6:7-8), and the lockdowns are attributed to global pestilence, and they are leading to record levels of hunger. The Antichrist and False Prophet will force everyone to take a Mark (Rev. 13:14-18), and Biden plans to force everyone to wear a mask starting on Jan. 21, 2021, and Bill Gates wants to force everyone to be tattooed (take a mark) when they are vaccinated for Covid. The Antichrist and False Prophet will deny those that refuse to take the Mark the right to buy and sell, and some politicians want to deny those that refuse to be vaccinated the right to buy and sell. The Antichrist and False Prophet will track the buying and selling of everyone on earth, and some politicians have suggested that the government use “contact tracing” to track everyone that tests positive for Covid. Some prophecy teachers believe the Antichrist and False Prophet will establish a cashless society, and some globalists want to establish a digital currency (cashless society). The Antichrist and False Prophet will outlaw freedom of religion, and some politicians are outlawing freedom of religion. Here are two other things that fit into the “For Your Information Category”:

One, here are four things that must happen before the Tribulation Period (do not assume that the last three must happen before the Rapture).

The Rapture (II Thess. 2:5-10). The rise of the Ten Kings (Dan. 7:7-8, 24). The appearance of Elijah as one of the Two Witnesses (Mal. 4:5-6). Confirmation of the covenant with many (Dan. 9:27). Two, here are three things that God said will happen on an exact day in the future:

From Antichrist’s confirmation of the covenant that begins the Tribulation Period to the end of the Tribulation Period and the Second Coming of Jesus, there will be one week of years (7 years on the Jewish calendar) or 2,520 days (Dan. 9:27). From the confirmation of the covenant until the Jews in Judea flee into the wilderness, there will be 1,260 days. From the beginning of Jesus’ kingdom on earth (Millennial reign) to the end of the Millennium, there will be 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4). Now, here are four events with prophetic implications that recently made the news:

One, concerning an economic collapse, some Democrats are proposing a Universal Basic Income (UBI; people that support the government will get a monthly check, but those that do not support the government will not get a monthly check).

It is beginning to look like some politicians (Democrats and Republicans, but mostly Democrats) are using the lockdown with no science behind it on small businesses that are obeying the rules to crush them (employers and employees) and to force them to depend on the government for handouts to control them.

On Dec. 6, 2020, it was reported that the Director of Medicine at Stanford and more than 43,000 learned scientists believe some politicians are creating “a medical police state.”

America’s debt has now topped 27 trillion dollars, and it is unlikely that future generations will be able to pay it back.

Two, in response to my statement that I believe there has been widespread election fraud, I have received two e-mails telling me that Atty. Gen. Bill Barr said the DOJ has not found any fraud.

That is a distortion of what he said, and even if it was accurate, how can we trust the DOJ after the way it has handled the Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden investigations and spied on and trapped Michael Flynn.

While this article was being written, one Republican congressman was accusing the DOJ of hindering the voter fraud investigation.

If citizens are to believe what the DOJ officials say, many of them need to clean up their act.

Because officials in Democrat-run cities and states have allowed criminals to riot, loot and burn without consequences, there is no reason to believe those officials would not allow voter fraud without consequences.

Three, on Dec. 3, 2020, the U.S. Dept. of Defense introduced a vaccination card that people can carry in their wallet to show that they have been vaccinated for Covid.

Four, on Nov. 30, 2020, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the FDA, said 30% of the U.S. population will probably be infected with Covid by the end of 2020.

Please take notice: If the Scriptures are accurate, and they are, that includes everything in them: heaven, hell, only one way to be saved, resurrection of the dead, and more.

Jesus said you must be born again (John 3:7), and the number of prophecy teachers that believe society is running out of time is growing larger and larger.

Finally, God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

From your profile page:

So, now ya know your Abyss from a hole in the ground, you can navigate The Apocalypse with the advantage of knowing beforehand what's coming next. I suggest an even BETTER advantage would be navigating it knowing Jesus, too, since that's the ENTIRE point, and the only survivable position.

You are a false teacher trying to sell The Redeemed the 'get ready to go though the Apocalypse' fraud. The redeemed are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation. I have shown you from the Revelation of John that The Redeemed are in Heaven when The Lamb takes the seven sealed scroll. You don't want to see that so you argue on the periphery as if your persistent clamour negates what John wrote when he heard 'the new song' sung by The Redeemed. Your sneaky methodology is more sophisticated than most non pretrib teachers, but it is transparent, too.

Where are the Redeemed when Jesus opens the seven sealed scroll to usher in the tribulation?

“The redeemed are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation.”

Of course not! Do not conflate the wrath of the Seven Bowls with the judgments of the Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets.

“I have shown you from the Revelation of John that The Redeemed are in Heaven when The Lamb takes the seven sealed scroll.”

You have made the claim, and cited a couple of verses, but you have not shown how they support that point. I have asked you to explain.

“You don’t want to see that...”

I’ll be happy to see whatever you can cogently explain. You cannot expect me to buy in basis inferences.

“...so you argue on the periphery as if your persistent clamour negates what John wrote when he heard ‘the new song’ sung by The Redeemed.”

My repeated requests for you to clearly explain step-by-step — as ought to be expected — how the texts you cite support your claims negate nothing John saw or wrote.

You have not clarified how you read about David casting lots to appoint 24 families for Temple service, and conclude that the Redeemed are the post Calvary expression of these families. I suppose they could be, but you haven’t laid out how you figured it out.

You have not clarified how you conclude that the 24 Elders of Revelation are symbolic of the Redeemed, not literal figures when John doesn’t say they’re symbolic.

We got here by you claiming the symbolism of the Elders to be a proof-text that the Redeemed are no longer on Earth when Jesus received the scroll and begins breaking the seals. One wouldn’t think it unusual that you might be expected to thoroughly ground such a key text. Yet, when I ask you to do so, rather than clear explanation I get insults.

What brotherhood in Christ is this that you have no patience to fully explain the linchpin of your belief that the Redeemed are with Christ prior to the breaking of the First Seal?

Daniel 2 is of the time from Babylonian captivity to the time of the Pentecost and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Daniel's visions END with the 1st coming of christ and the destruction of the second temple

31 “You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and [ag]of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was [ah]awesome. 32 The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You [ai]continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces [aj]all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.

first kingdom 37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the [ak]kingdom, the power, the strength, and the honor; 38 and wherever the sons of mankind live, or the animals of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has handed them over to you and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.

Second Kingdom - Achaemenid empire -

Third kingdom - Macedonian empire

4th Kingdom - the Roman empire

During the fourth kingdom (not a "revived kingdom" - that is not indicated in the text) you have the Divine Kingdom of Heaven - Christianity - coming at Pentecost

This ties in to Daniel 7

. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human [e]mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its [f]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

and to rev 13

2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne, and great authority. 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been [b]fatally wounded, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;

Daniel 2 - statue	Daniel 7 - beasts	Rev 13
first kingdom: Babylon: "You are the head of gold" - neo-Babylonian empire	"like a lion" v 4	"a mouth like a lion" v2
second kingdom: Achaemenid empire: v39	"like a bear with three ribs in its mouth" v5 - three ribs: Persia, Medea and Babylonia	"its feet were like a bear" v 2
third kingdom - Macedonian empire - "bronze"	"like a leopard" v6 - for the swiftness of conquest	"like a leopard" v2
Fourth beast - Roman principate(743 BC to 311 AD) - iron then iron mixed with clay	"it had ten horns" v 7	"with ten horns" v1 -- horns were the symbol of power. 10 signifying power and 10 rulers - Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero,Galba,Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian

Jesus said the generation that sees Israel growing will not pass away until everything is fulfilled

The author is lying

What did Jesus say in Matthew 23 - Matthew 24

34 “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the [ag]temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Note in Matthew 24

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so you too, when you see all these things, [y]recognize that [z]He is near, right at the [aa]door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
34.	Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.	Amen dico vobis, quia non præteribit generatio hæc, donec omnia hæc fiant.	αμην λεγω υμιν ου μη παρελθη η γενεα αυτη εως αν παντα ταυτα γενηται

NOTE: THIS generation listening to Jesus in 30 AD -- not some generation 1918 years later.

and our generation has been watching Israel grow for 72 years (Matt. 24:34)

A generation is for 40 years. So your pre-trib rapture should have come in 1988 - hint, it didn't

Jesus uses the phrase "this generation" many times. It is used in fact just BEFORE the Olivet discourse in Matt 23:36 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

And He repeats in Matt 24:34 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place

In both cases, Jesus is referring to His own generation - that of people living in 33 AD

Furthermore, refer to

Matt 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. --> they will hand YOU, kill YOU etc --> Jesus is referring to those listening to Him THEN, in 30 to 33 AD

This is similar to Mark 13:9 But [e]be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the [f]courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them -- you think Christians will be flogged in synagogues in 2021?

The generation of the fig tree was those in 33 AD -- and within 40 years, the temple was destroyed

Note that the Olivet discourse is in the synoptic gospels but not in the gospel of John. WHY?

The synoptic gospels were written BEFORE the destruction of the temple in 70 AD (like the book of Revelation), but the Gospel of john was written later, in 90 AD

John wrote none of these things because the readers had already witnessed the fulfilment of the Olivet discourse -- the generation of the fig tree had already passed away by 90 AD when the gospel of John was written

Ours is NOT the generation of the fig tree -- that generation died out in the first century

Gabriel told Daniel that the Antichrist will rise to power in a reunited Europe, and Europe has been reunited (the EU; Dan. 9:26).

More lies from the author

Dan 9:26 says Then after the sixty-two weeks, the [ab]Messiah will be cut off and have [ac]nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [ad]its end will come with a flood; even to the end [ae]there will be war; desolations are determined

Firstly - absolutely NOTHING about Europe

Secondly, the Roman Empire covers a completely different geography from the EU

The Roman empire was heavily involved in North AFrica (the grain basket) and egypt (the richest province) with extents in Anatolia and syria

The EU has countries such as Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Scandanavia, the Baltics etc. that were NEVER in the Roman empire

As you well and accurately note, Rev. 5:9-10 has the 24 Elders and Four Living Creatures singing a New Song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” — NKJV

I absolutely understand that you claim the Redeemed are in Heaven in Rev. 5; represented in the scene by the 24 Elders, and I understand how you get that from the words of this song, and this is what it all comes down to, and it’s the root of our disagreement, and it arises out of the various Greek manuscripts supporting which words get used in English.

Your thesis comes to rest on the use of the word “us” in verse 10, which drives the use of “us” in verse 9 and “we” in verse 10. But key manuscripts — the majority, in fact — use “them” in the Greek, which drives the use of “them” and “they” in verse 10, and the use of a Direct Object other than “us” in verse 9.

The New English Translation has the most comprehensive footnotes addressing this dilemma:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons[ab] from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have appointed them[ae] as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” — NET

[ab] - The word “persons” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
[ae] - The vast majority of witnesses have αὐτούς (autous, “them”) here, while the Textus Receptus reads ἡμᾶς (hēmas, “us”) with insignificant support (pc gig vgcl sa Prim Bea). There is no question that the original text read αὐτούς here.

Since the Elders are singing “...you have purchased for God PERSONS from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have appointed THEM as a kingdom and priests...” the Elders AREN’T including themselves among those purchased for God, or among those appointed as kings and priests.

This makes sense, because the Four Living Creatures are also singing these same words, and there’s no question about them being purchased for God, or appointed as kings and priests; they’re not.

With that established, a cascade of things fall into place:
The 24 Elders and Four Living Creatures are not singing about themselves in verses 9 and 10.
Therefore, the 24 Elders are not including themselves among the Redeemed.
Therefore, the 24 Elders also do not symbolize the Redeemed, which explains why John doesn’t say they are symbolic.
Therefore, the Redeemed are not present in this scene before God’s Throne in Rev. 5 watching The Lamb break the Seals.

The mark of the beast will require worship of the antichrist. No one will be able to take it unknowingly. So far this vaccine is not it and no one should be afraid to take the vaccine for this reason.

Correct.

And the Mark of the beast you need to read especially in context of Rev 7:3

saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

and rev 14:1

144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

This is of God, jsut as the Lamb is of God -

Rev 5 6 And I saw [c]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are [d]the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth

Now read the Mark of the beast and also Rev 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb,

And you see that the Beast brought a parody of the lamb and the Mark of the beast is a parody of the lamb

The Mark of GOD on the other hand is the seal, the Tau, the sign of the Cross. the mark of the beast was the coin of Nero

You refer to the mark of the beast - the coin of

remember The verses in the book of the Apocalypse says

Apoc 13:11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lambs but spoke like a dragon.

12 It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

13 It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of everyone.

14 It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and revived.

15 It was then permitted to breathe life into the beasts image, so that the beasts image could speak and [could] have anyone who did not worship it put to death.

16 It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads,

17 so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beasts name or the number that stood for its name.

18 [b]Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.

This beast with two horns "like a lamb" but which "spoken like a dragon" is Satan's parody of the lamb.

A key note is the difference between where the beasts arise -- the first beast arises out of the sea - the sea indicates gentile nations.

This parody of the Lamb represents corrupt leaders within Jerusalem. This parody is later identified by John as the "false prophet" in Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

As the "false prophet" this parody sets itself up against God's prophets in the days leading to 69 AD.

The false religious leaders who led the persecution of the Christ-sect of Jews in the days leading up to the destruction of the temple in 69 AD are indicated here

The mark of the beast is again a parody of the SIGN on the believers as we read in the letter to the Philadelphians -- the SIGN or Tau being the Hebrew letter which looks like a cross - so the sign of the cross as the christians did was the sign of God

The mark of the beast is linked to the number of the beast - as "wisdom is needed here... it stands for a person..." -- to reveal the identity of the beast to the Christians while hiding it from outsiders, St john used Gematria, the rabbinic numering system for names. When the Gematrian numbers of Nero's official name in Hebrew are added together (50 + 200 + 6+50 + 100 + 60 + 200) they total 666. The Christians KNew that 666 is the number of Nero

==========================================================

Remember back to the Mark of the Lamb alluded to in the 6th letter to the churches, to the Philadelphians - God's mark is mentioned specifically in the sixth seal of the initial vision (7:3). In Heaven God's faithful "servants shall worship Him; they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads"..22:4

The mark of the beast is Satan's parody of the sign of the cross. The sign on the forehead talks of loyalty and that on the hand of what we do with the loyalty

We see the same in 14:9 "anyone who worships the beast and its image" is shown as "receiving a mark on his forehead or on his hand"

Nero is the human whose symbol is 666, who demanded worship of himself.

This is the only time in history when the Church was persecuted by both the beast (the Roman empire) and the harlot (Jerusalem authorities)

ST John twice pauses to say "here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints" (13:10, 14:12). The first time, this is following a statement about not being in armed conflict against the beast "if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain" (13:10)

The second time is not to have the mark of the beast -- to be clear the admonition agians thte mark of the beast is "do not worship the earthly power of the roman empire - THAT is the mark of the beast

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.