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Mark of the Beast
March 2, 2013

 

 

So what if the prophecy of Malachy is correct and the next Pope is the last Pope? It means we will be in for a rough ride for a few years. Among the many prophecies of the Book of Revelation is a mention of the mark of the beast that people will need in order to buy and sell.

Revelation 13:11-18
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

A situation that makes no sense to those of us living in freedom is presented. A strange dictatorship takes hold of the earth. So with all of the different governments, religions, and political agendas, how does this happen? Obviously spiritual warfare is being used and the dark side is winning, but to the casual observer, how might this look? It will look like a ground swell movement. Everyone will see the importance of being unified based on some criteria we do not yet understand. Maybe the world will face extreme duress and one person steps up with what looks like a brilliant pathway to safety; or perhaps a series of supernatural events involving the beast and false prophet will capture the attention and heart of the world. We really do not know. There is much debate on what is the mark of the beast. Is it a barcode, RF chip, or something else? Could the mark of the beast be a spiritual mark rather than a physical mark? Could the mark signify ownership by or agreement with? What drives discussion is the statement that nobody will be able to buy or sell without this mark. What if the mark of the beast were something more like zeitgeist, that the world was focused on singularity, where diverse opinions were persecuted. What if the mark of the beast resulted in people focused on being united out of a need for self-preservation? What if questions are fun to ask because we don't know what really will happen. But in the scenario Ihave given, what if questions would not be tolerated. Have you noticed an increase in people who do not tolerate those with other views? Singularity is on the rise. Have you seen trends that discourage free speech and debate? Singularity is on the rise. Have you seen movements to reduce thought and comply to larger group expectations? Singularity is on the rise. Do you know what you call a group driven by a spiritual source exercising singularity? You call the group Legion.

Mark 5:1-9
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

In the story from the earthly ministry, Jesus cast out the legion from a single person. Collectively they had singularity of purpose in this one person. Singularity of purpose can be seen in one person possessed by many demons, or by many people possessed by many demons. What is needed for singularity is not the quantity of people, but the collective focus of the demons.

Revelation 19:19-21
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

The time of trouble and the time of singularity will end, and the Bible shows there will be those saved who were called by God. Those who direct the evil during this time of trouble will die and come to nothing. Those who remain will be able tocelebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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