I have been terrified of the mark of the beast ever since I read In the Twinkling of an Eye, The Mark of the Beast, and Scarlet and Purple by Sydney Watson (not to be confused with The Left Behind Collection by Tim LaHaye). It was in the 1960s in Los Angeles near the Watts riots during the Vietnam war and it all seemed very eminent to me.
But I am not worried about accidentally getting the mark of the beast for 2 reasons:
- I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture so I don’t expect to be here when it happens
- There will be many supernatural world-wide warnings before it happens
During this great tribulation period, there will be 3 angels that make world-wide proclamations so that no one will be clueless.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3 WEB)
The third great commission of the good news
All my life, I have desired to be like John the Baptist calling out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” (John 1). I have been involved in may evangelical outreach programs from individual discipleship, street preaching, to stadium crusades. I have toured Israel and walked the streets that Jesus and the Apostles walked. But, I have never imagined anything like this final commission that will be delivered by supernatural angels to the whole world.
I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!” (Revelation 14:6-7 WEB)
- The 2 great commissions (the first commission and the great commission)
- We need a new personal commission
- What is the gospel?
Declaration of destruction of Babylon the Great
Some people think the City of Babylon refers to the Roman Catholic Church. But, in my opinion, the Babylon of the Bible is much bigger than that because the Bible was written hundreds and thousands of years before the Roman Catholic Church. It’s hard to think all the Old Testament references to Babylon (starting with the actual Tower of Babel about 3,500 years ago) were prophetic of something that small. Therefore, I believe this Babylon is symbolic of all pagan religions throughout history that have tried to build a tower of human accomplishment up to the heavens to be like gods.
Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.” (Revelation 14:8 WEB)
- The 2 religions of the world as illustrated by Invictus versus My Captain
- Jesus Christ is the redeemer
- 1001 Verses about faith
Angelic warning against the mark of the beast
Someday there will be a mark of the beast. This was shown to the Apostle John in supernatural visions of the far future. But it was almost too fantastic to put into words compared to his AD 95 world. Ever since then, Christians have believed what he wrote, but we couldn’t imagine how it could be accomplished. Now, for the first time in human history, these things are within our grasp. We can imagine a world wide broadcast that reaches everyone on earth at the same time. We can imagine flying through the heavens. We can even imagine supernatural angelic creatures.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that we start imagining conspiracy theories that credit cards containing the number 666 are the mark of the beast, or RFID tags in passports are the mark of the beast, or vaccines for the coronavirus will contain the mark of the beast. But we don’t have to worry because the Bible is very clear that this won’t happen by accident.
Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:9-12 WEB)
There will be no excuse when this happens. Everyone who gets this mark will understand the reasons, the implications, and the consequences.
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six. (Revelation 13:16-18 WEB)
Don’t be fooled to think the mark will be restricted to just the right hand or the forehead. Satan is a deceiver and will use what’s available to him. And right now we’re seeing the destruction of Babylon(the church) beginning now. I may be wrong but I don’t believe this will be as clear cut as we think. We will be deceived.