Marks of the Beast

I will share with you something I have found interesting that involves End-time events. I am not sure, but would assume most people, that are Christians, have seen a movie that touches on the time that most call The Apocalypse. It is big business for both the Christians and the World. It has been an awaited event for millennium and we are still waiting for it patiently. You have those that mock people that believe in its coming, you have those that may try to tie this coming occurrence with that of aliens and you have those that know of its coming but feel that they will be taken away from the Earth and will get to avoid all that will happen.

Like you I have my beliefs on this matter. I will confess that I do not know every view on this matter when it comes to pre, mid and post tribulationists (If this is even a word). From scripture alone it would seem that what I call a reaping takes place two thirds of the way through what is revealed in Revelation. First I looked at one of the scriptures that those that believe in the rapture use and that is 1 Corinthians 15:52. What I see overlooked and don’t understand why it is overlooked is that in that verse it clearly states that at the LAST TRUMP is when the dead and those alive are caught up. Interesting collation is that in Revelation we read about Trumps that are sounded. Revelation 11:15 we read of the sounding of this Last Trumpet taking place. It is near the end of this Trumpet that the reaping that I believe in takes place (Revelation 14:14-19).

I know that the majority of the teachings out there say that the “Church” is raptured from the earth before any of the terrible things in Revelation happen, but I will not and cannot teach people something that is not clearly stated in the scriptures, but I will teach and show what the scriptures do reveal. I wouldn’t mind getting out of the things that happen in the book of Revelation, it’s just not there in the scriptures. I would rather prepare for the worse and when it comes not be caught off guard, than thinking all is well and being blindsided because you have been taught that you will escape everything to come. Another point to think about is that there is nowhere in the scriptures that God has ever taken His people off the earth to protect them or removed them to keep them from tribulation. God has always watched over His people while they were yet on the earth during tribulations when they occurred.

Noah and the great flood, Moses and the children of Israel, God’s remnant that were found in the nation of Israel and Judah during the reign of evil Kings that brought the judgment of God upon them; did God remove His people during those times? No, but He did keep them safe and provide for them. This too is what will take place during the End-times. I am afraid that majority of Christians will be caught off guard when the signs are all around and yet they find themselves still here; they will think that the signs can’t be those mentioned in Revelation because they are still here, thus it is not the time. They will be deceived by the one that will come during that time.

I say all of this because if you believe that you will not be here for the tribulation then what I am going to be talking about will mean nothing to you or you will find unimportant. Honestly, I wonder why Christians spend so much time and money talking about and making movies about something that supposedly they will not be here to deal with. Why even worry about the signs of the End-times if you’re going to be taken out of here before hand? If their life is mirroring that of Jesus’s and they’re in good standing with God then even the signs aren’t important, because they believe that they will not be here for the main event.

Why did Jesus tell us to be watchful, to stay wake and give signs of the End-times? It is because we will be here for it until that Last Trumpet will Jesus reap the faithful, those that are dead and those that are alive, up to him. Now that we will be here for the main event the importance of being watchful and awake become more important to us. We definitely do not want to be caught sleeping and unprepared, so that way we will be able to help those that have fallen asleep or even lost track of time and have been caught up in the things of the World.

Now let me talk to you about what I wanted to from the beginning, but needed to say those other things first. During the Tribulation we have heard about this mysterious Mark of the Beast. Some think it is literal and others think it is figurative. What I want to first point out is that there is not just simply one mark, even the scriptures mention that there will be more than just one mark. Revelation 13:17 mentions three marks that can be received. You have the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name. There will be three possible marks that can be placed upon the forehead and hand. I also believe it can be a physical mark as well as a spiritual mark or even both, given to show where your allegiance lies.

The location of where the marks are given could be representing two things. First is if it is in the hand than that could be showing that the individual is more or less being lead to follow the World, but may not be a devoted believer in the system of the Beast. Second is if the mark is given in the forehead than that could represent that the individual is a devoted, full fledge supporter of the Beast system. Either way they will be treated the same, since neither has stood up to follow The Almighty and were not accepting (Truly accepting) of His son Jesus Christ. These are the figurative symbolism that I have given for the hand and forehead. They can also be the literal locations of some form of physical mark that people receive, depending on where they want this mark to be placed, the hand and the forehead.

Will every single human being receive a physical mark? No, I don’t believe that everyone will get a physical mark because you will have pockets of resistance from groups that will not want to be under the Beast system. The problem for them will be that these pockets may also resist The Almighty and refuse to accept Jesus. In that case they would receive a spiritual mark; fore they refuse to make a choice in the matter and as Jesus spoke of in Revelation about the Laodicea Church who were not cold or hot and they will be spewed out. By not making a choice they have made a choice; if they chose not God then they have chosen the Devil. It is as simple as that. Another aspect of receiving the mark is that once you have received it there is no going back. That is the cutoff point for all individuals.

There is only one case where receiving a physical mark will not condemn you. I have not heard this spoken of from anyone else, but that doesn’t mean others haven’t thought about it. What if during this time when we are forced to decide in either receiving the Mark or being killed that there is a third option given. This option is that they choose to force the Mark on you instead of killing you. Are you then condemned because you have the Mark? No, because if that were the case the Devil would have no desire to kill God’s people. He would just mark them and *BAM* they would be his and condemned to the same fate as him. Some may think that this will not happen, but as I say at times, never say never. I believe this really will be something that is going to happen during the time of the end and if this by chance happens to you do not lose hope for it is not the end for you.

You may get tired of hearing this from me, but we really need to be watchful of world events and being prepared to confront what we may not expect to happen, like in the case of the Mark being forced upon people. When we signed up to follow Jesus and serve his Father we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, specially living in a world that is under the control of the Devil. Here we are though looking forward to Jesus’s return and with him our reward for our faithfulness. That reward by far will make all that we go through worth it. I can only imagine what it will be like once Jesus begins his reign. Like most of you I to could use a break for a thousand years, being free from the influences and continual bombardment from the Devil and getting to experience TRUE peace in every aspect.