If you are one of them who worry about these things, please hear us out and let us show scripture.
One of the rules for scripture is that the keyword used in the Bible can be found elsewhere. Once gathered together, we can see the whole picture. (This is also why using the original translation of the Bible is important)
The keyword we shall use is: SEAL
We see that those who have the mark of the beast aren't the only ones being sealed. The servants of God are sealed as well:
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Revelation 7:2,3
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1
We see here that the servants of God are sealed by the Holy Spirit. These are the ones who have trusted Christ as their Saviour and heard the gospel. After this, they were sealed by the Holy Ghost.
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:12-14 (caps added for emphasis)
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption" Ephesians 4:30
If the servants of God are sealed by the Holy Ghost which is Spiritual, why would the mark of the beast be something physical? God looks at the Spiritual things, and not the physical.
We see that the forehead and the hand show complete devotion and submission: with all our minds (forehead) and in all that we do (hand). It reveals who we are devoted to.
Example: "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes." Deut 11:18
Those who have the mark of the beast have consented unto the enemy in complete devotion. In Revelation, we see them being devoted to, worshiping, and in complete awe of the beast. They give him reverence.
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? " Rev 13:3,4
Those are who have fallen in love with the beast. They consent unto Him by their thoughts and their actions. They worship his image.
But what is the beast? Is it a man? Let us see what the Bible says. The keyword is: BEAST
What is a beast? Daniel 7:23 reveals it is a kingdom.
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces"(Italics added for emphasis)
Here is the description of the Beast in Revelation 13: 1-8:
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
It is not a literal dinosaur monster rising out of the sea. Each description is symbolic. Let us see the truth behind the symbols. Revelation 17:8-18 reveal the secrets of the codes:
"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."
So, we see here that the heads are mountains, the horns are the kings, the water represents multitudes of people, and the woman (also known as the whore) is a great city. Revelation 13 shows that the dragon (satan) gives the beast its power.
The children of God are able to overcome satan,
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Rev 12:10, 11
We shall overcome satan by the blood of the lamb which is by claiming Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for our sins. Our penalties have been paid in full.
We shall overcome satan by the word of our testimony which reveals what God is doing in our lives. It shows God's power in our lives.
We shall overcome satan also by not loving our lives unto the death. Satan will try to get us to do the opposite by loving our lives, the world, our possessions and ourselves. If we fear what we shall lose, we will miss out on what we could GAIN!
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev 13:8
This passage reveals that those whose names are NOT written in the book of life shall worship the beast. Christians are always fearful of mistakenly taking the mark of the beast, but why should we be the ones worrying? If we are truly saved in Christ, we will not be one of those who worship the beast and take his mark.
Those who are in Christ should never worry about the mark of the beast because if we love God with all our hearts, mind and soul like He commanded us to, we shall never give in to the beast. If we worship God with all that we think and do, then that leaves no place for the enemy!
***PART 2 COMING SOON TO REVEAL WHO THE BEAST IS***
No comments:
Post a Comment