THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Sir,

The most fearful language in the book is used in Revelation 14; “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice; ‘If any man worships the beast and his image, and receives 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’.”

According to Revelation 13, those with the mark of the beast will worship the dragon (satan) and they’ll worship the beast (The Antichrist). “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’?”

All who worship the beast will forfeit the privilege of eternal life; they will suffer utter destruction in the lake of fire. “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). Those with the mark of the beast will be inflicted with the dreaded seven last plagues. “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image,” (Rev 16:2).

God wants everybody to be saved and on the other hand the devil desperately wants all to be lost. We choose whom we will serve by whom we obey (Joshua 24:15). Revelation 14:9-11 makes it clear that those who receive the mark do so as a result of a decision they have made regarding worshiping the beast and his image. The mark of the beast and worship of the image of the beast are choices people make; they are identifiable as they are connected to worship choices.

The mark is not literal; remember we are dealing with symbols. The forehead represents the mind with which we serve God (Rom. 7:25) and the hand is a symbol of men’s work (Eccl. 9:10). Obedience to God’s commands is expressed as a way of showing love and loyalty towards God and is described as a sign on the hand or forehead (Deuteronomy 6:4-8; 11:18-21).

When Adam and Eve trusted the lies of the serpent above the command of God they entered into creature worship; they worshipped the beast. The last test in this world will include the same elements as in Eden - the serpent, his lies, worship, obedience or disobedience and the penalty of expulsion from the kingdom of God (Rev 22:14).

Whenever we know a Bible truth and refuse to obey it we worship the creature instead of the creator. May God help us not put our own opinions and feelings above the revealed will of God.

Rev. 14:9 - 11 warns against receiving the mark of the beast. Verse 12 tells what the victorious saints do to avoid the mark; they keep God’s commandments and have the faith of Jesus that makes the miracle of commandment-keeping possible!

Bopoto

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