Marking Yourself

We interrupt our normal (abnormal) posting schedule for this important message…

Facebook is a scary place. Some truly devout but misguided believers might be making it worse.

I have seen many posts about 666 and mark of the beast cross my electronic path. They are filled with fear and tend to inspire anxiety.

In a way, this is rightfully so.

Revelation 13 talks about a very scary time. Key excerpts (The Passion Translation) include:

So the wild beast began to blaspheme against God, blaspheming his holy name and his dwelling place; that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was given the authority to wage war against the holy believers. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. Everyone on earth will worship the wild beast — those who names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.

The beast from the earth was empowered to breathe life into the image of the first beast so that it could speak and kill those who refused to worship its image. It also caused everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and bound, to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead. This meant no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark; that is, the name of the beast or its number.

This will require wisdom to understand: Let the one with insight interpret the number of the wild beast, for it is humanity’s number — 666.

Two more passages also warn of the mark. The first is Revelation 14:9–11 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition).

Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a mighty voice, Whoever pays homage to the beast and his statue and permits the [beast’s] stamp (mark, inscription) to be put on his forehead or on his hand, he too shall [have to] drink of the wine of God’s indignation and wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no respite (no pause, no intermission, no rest, no peace) day or night — these who pay homage to the beast and to his image and whoever receives the stamp of his name upon him.

The second is Revelation 16:1–2 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition).

Then I heard a mighty voice from the temple sanctuary saying to the seven angels, Go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath and indignation. So the first [angel] went and emptied his bowl on the earth, and foul and painful ulcers (sores) came on the people who were marked with the stamp of the beast and who did homage to his image.

However, Revelation is a prophetic book. It is designed to warn the faithful (and not-so-faithful) about things to come. But things to come is a future time — a time known only to God the Father. Even Jesus did not know the complete timeline (Matthew 24:36). Many things are hidden in imagery and figurative language.

If we think we are close to these times, what should we do?

First, as believers, we should have peace. We know the Lord, and we know He will keep and protect us. During hard times, He will lead us. He will give us the path to go.

Most sources believe the mark will not come until after the Rapture. At this point, I don’t understand Rapture well enough to know whether it’s a pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib thing. I don’t think I have to. I just have to, after believing Jesus is Lord and making Him Ruler of my Heart, believe that He is able to do this.

What about about our non-believing family and friends?

First, inspiring fear and panic will score us no points. We should be wise as serpents as well as innocent as doves. We should recognize that Biblical prophecy is scary, and it can be even more so to those who do not believe and are either avoiding the Lord’s conviction or hearing the enemy’s condemnations.

Second, with the Lord’s help, we should be examining our motives and actions. We should be living in a way that wins the respect of outsiders; this includes non-believers with whom we are acquainted (Colossians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:9–13).

This is the truest, best response for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.