First Read : MARK OF THE BEAST: TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE MARK
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-of-beast.html
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
By Mike Desario
http://standingthegap.org/The%20Mark%20of%20the%20Beast.htm
"And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads." Rev13:16
What is this Mark spoken of in the Book of Revelation and how will it be implemented upon mankind? Will a charismatic world leader suddenly come to power in the Middle East, solve the geo-political problems between the Western and Arab nations, then proclaim himself the new savior of mankind? Will the World at large then receive his ‘mark’ implanted through some high-tech electronic device under the skin of their forehead or hand? Or perhaps all this is just some movie plot designed to sell you an interesting story line with religious overtones about the end of the world?
This subject however is no joking matter to millions of professing Christians in the US and world who are eagerly awaiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to ‘Snatch’ them away from any ‘tribulation’ that may occur in their lifetimes as a result of an anti-Christ figure rising to power over the nations.
They fear anything related to the Number 666 and entertain numerous conspiracy theories concerning the Governments ability to inflict just such a system upon its people to enslave them. But given the present condition of the professing church, somewhere between lukewarm, corrupt and dead spiritually, much of the hype concerning the ‘end times’ is just another means to keep the focus off the Truth.
Ask yourself, if Satan is behind all the evil that exists in the world and the plot to overthrow the Kingdoms of the earth, would anything he put into action be done in an ‘obvious’ manner? Would he not work his schemes on mankind with much stealth, cunning and massive deception? The Bible says that he can actually appear as an angel of light and minister of righteousness when spreading his lies and deceit. (2Cor11:13-14) MOST professing Christians are deeply deceived already by his lies that promise them liberty in Christ while they remain slaves to their own inner corruption. Is it any wonder then that this ‘mark’, that they think will be so obvious as a chip under the skin, is just another in a long list of STONG delusions brought about by professing Christianity’s LACK of Love for the Truth?
The Apostle, who wrote the Book of Revelation, said this, 1John2:15-17,
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever."
Jesus said, concerning the lust of the eyes, Matt5:28-29 ,
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Jesus also said this concerning the eye, Matt6:22-23,
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is single, your whole body is full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Scripture teaches unquestionably that the ‘evil eye’ (Mark7:22) is the single most source of Lust and Corruption of man’s inner being. The remedy is a radical removal of this source and a singleness of devotion to the True Light giver, Jesus Christ. But from WHERE does this ‘evil eye’ ignite these deadly passions within and henceforth cause the whole body to be cast into hell!?
Revelation 13:18, says that 666 is the ‘Number of a man!’ Is this merely the ‘number’ of his name as many have been lead to believe through present day teaching. Howbeit when our decimal numbering system was not invented until around 800AD? Who translated the original notation by John and what ‘system’ did he use to distinguish the weight of these numbers? In ancient Greek the letters of the Greek alphabet contained numerical value, each corresponding with a certain value weighted against Roman numerals. This translates into our 666, the number contained in our English Bibles and feared by millions of professing Christians as some mysterious individual yet to be revealed who will number the people of earth as his servants.
However NOTHING could be further from the truth. Unknown to the Apostle John at the time, the number of man is indeed 666. The Carbon Atom consists of 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons, the Atomic number of Carbon is 6. The human body consists of 18% carbon (a multiple of 3x6) & over 60% oxygen! The Number of man is indeed 666! Our own flesh contains this ‘mark’ by the every fact that we exist as human beings.
But what does it mean to ‘receive’ the mark on the forehead or hand? Will the Beast and False Prophet force you to take this mark as a form of worship or will you escape their clutches in the nick of time because you ‘believe’ in Jesus? The Truth may surprise you!
Strange translations.
The word translated ‘forehead’ in Rev13:16 and elsewhere in Revelation is NOT used anywhere else in the New Testament. The Greek Word is ‘Metopon’, a combination of two Greek expressions, meaning simply, ‘With an eye.’ (Ops….an eye, Meta…with) The ‘hand’ in the ancient world denoted a place of honor where some sort of designation as to your status in life would be displayed. This 666 is NOT the number of an individual man, but as the word in verse 18 translates, ‘anthropos’ or MANKIND.
The MARK then represents the Lustful eye of man, attached to the things of this world, ‘receiving’ from his own ‘animal’ like nature, the pride of life.
The image of the Beast John beheld was the VERY image of unregenerate man, professing to a form of godliness but denying its Power to destroy the sin nature inside! Beast is translated as a ‘savage, ferocious animal’ Is this NOT a perfect description given of man in his godless state of rebellion?
"Lovers of themselves, lovers of money, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despises of good, traitors, headstrong, proud, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power!" 2Tim3:2-5
Jesus said you must CUT off the offending member or risk being throw whole into hell, Matt5:27-30. You are told NOT to present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but to God as being alive from the dead! Rom6:13. Eph5:30 says we are members of His body of His flesh of His bones! Therefore put to death your members which are on earth, lust, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, covetousness and idolatry. Col3:5 James says that its LUST that is at war with our members, James4:1.
Everything goes back to the ‘eye’ and man’s attempt to serve TWO Masters. When only Singleness of eye will put to death (or cut off the offending members, metaphor) the deeds of the body in order that he may live. WHO is it that dispenses this ‘Mark’, look again at Rev13:16, WHO causes man to ‘receive’ this mark….THE FALSE PROPHET! Again, Scripture DOES NOT teach that this is an individual person rising up out of the masses, but a SYSTEM at work from the beginning enslaving men in their own lusts.
"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work!" 2Thess2:7
"But there were false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you!" 2Pet2:1
"MANY false prophets have gone out into the world." 1John4:1
"Even now MANY anti-Christs have come." 1John2:18
WHO is causing professing Christians to ‘receive’ this mark? THOSE who preach the Grace of God as License for immorality! Such teaching is rampant in the present day church. The False Prophet is proclaiming a FALSE Gospel! That’s the deception, the STRONG DELUSION spoken of in 2Thess2:11. The PERFECT LIE! Everyone is looking for an outward sign of End time Prophecy when it’s in their OWN Flesh they are held captive. "For to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that ones slave whom you Obey!" Rom6:16.
Peter and Jude spoke plainly of these men and how to recognize them. They will teach destructive heresies, exploit you with deceptive words and cause the way of truth to be blasphemed, 2Pet2:1-3. They will walk according to their own ‘lusts, self willed and presumptuous, 2Pet2:10. They have ‘eyes’ full of adultery that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls and they love the wages of unrighteousness, 2Pet2:14. Like natural brute ‘Beasts’ made to be caught and destroyed, 2Pet2:12.
Jude added, ‘They are spots in your love feasts, clouds without water, trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots!’ Jude12. ‘They are sensual persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit’ Jude19.
Scripture often refers to corrupted man as a ‘dog’ returning to its own vomit or a ‘sow’ wallowing in the mire, 2Pet2:22. Christ calls false teachers ‘Savage Wolves’ who are known by their fruits, Matt7:15. Outside the Great Kingdom will be the ‘dogs’, immoral, murderers and idolaters who love and practice a lie, Rev22:15. At the end no one is magically transformed into a holy and upright Saint, pure and chaste for the Lord, Rev22:11 States,
"He who is unjust, let him be unjust still, he who is filthy, let him be filthy still, he who is righteous, let him be righteous still, he who is holy, let him be holy still."
If the Nature of the Beast remains in you and your flesh is in control, you have ALREADY received the ‘mark’ spoken of by John. If you are double-minded, impure and friends with the world you need to ‘cut off’ the offending members, humble yourself and draw near to God. (James4:7-10.) The False Prophet is teaching you a gospel of sin! Although it appeals to your flesh now, it will indeed exclude from the Kingdom at the Great Judgment.
Why ‘pluck out’ an eye to enter into life? To what purpose would removing this important member of the body serve, if the remaining eye remains corrupt and full of darkness? The simple answer of course, is NONE whatsoever! ONLY if the remaining eye is fixed in Singleness of purpose and devotion on Christ and the Narrow Way to the Kingdom, would it be sound and FULL of Light. That’s why Jesus said you CANNOT Serve Two Masters, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit, Matt6:24, 7:18. Those who attempt to serve God in this manner are ‘double-minded’ and unstable in every way. Unfit for the Kingdom!
The Beast John saw rising up out of the sea in Revelation 13, with all its horns, crowns and heads represents mankind in all his regalia. He draws his power and authority from the great Dragon (Satan, the Prince and power of the air & god of this age, Eph2:2, 2Cor4:4, 1Jh5:19) Through man, this dragon makes war against everything decent and holy, despises the Saints of God and works his most devious schemes and deceptions against them. Men delight imitating this animal nature, taking on its attributes, mimicking its savage instincts. They fight and war, kill and destroy, dog eating dog in a world perishing in its own corruption.
Those who attempt to ‘buy and sell’ in this world without the ‘mark’, meet with a constant source of frustration. The ‘Sound’ eye is SINGLE, full of honest, sincerity and serves its Master in just such manner with ‘singleness’ or sincerity of heart, Col3:22. Redeemed by a ‘Purchased Price’ (1Cor7:23) the Saints of the Most High God triumph over the ‘mark’! Although they may be severely persecuted, stripped of earthly goods and put to death, they will OVERCOME the Beast by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony! (Rev12:11)
In Mystery Babylon the fallen worship the Beast and his image. They bow at the shine of vain amusement and heap unto themselves teachers to tickle their ears and turn them away from the truth. They walk as enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, their mind set on earthly things. The Great system of wealth and fortune, adorned in the finery of modern convenience will become their smoldering ruin. And all who have ‘received’ the ‘mark’ will perish in torment, the smoke of which will ascend forever and ever.
While the professing church waits for the ‘rapture’ they serve the Beast and the False Prophet, having received his mark through the corruption of their own eye. Lusting after the things of the world and calling it ‘Christian’ they have tested the depths of Satan and toy with immorality. A bed of affliction awaits them and great tribulation unless they repent and return to their first love. Rather than strengthening the little that remains of godliness in there midst, they rely on dead works to substitute for true holiness. Many have already had their names blotted OUT of the Book of Life and are completely unaware! The remainder sleep the deadly slumber of death, not hot, or cold, but ‘lukewarm’ (wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked!) primed to be spewed out of the Master’s mouth. Rich and increased with goods, the modern church is gathering in the Tares for the final burning and refusing to heed the WORDS of warning contained in Scripture before it’s too late. (Rev2:1-11, 18-27, 3:1-6, 14-22)
There are many mysterious symbols and strange illustrations contained in the Apocalypse that have confused readers for generations. What did John see in this fantastic Cosmic Vision of end time events? Was it the close of an age, the final Judgment of mankind or the ravings of a lunatic? Whatever is your understanding of this Book looking back or forward through time, one thing is certain, it’s the Corruption of the FLESH that Christ came to destroy, so that man would no longer have to serve his own ‘beast’ like nature. The ENTIRE focus of Christ’s message is aimed at saving man from the corruption that is in the world through LUST! (2Pet1:3-11)
All things that pertain to life and godliness, the exceeding great and precious promises, the Divine Nature of Christ, each one is a vital element in man’s eternal redemption. Through these he can add to his faith, make his calling and election sure, never stumble or fall away, and NOT lose sight of the fact that he was Cleansed of his former sins to live a life worthy of the high calling in Christ Jesus. By which he will have an entrance into the everlasting Kingdom supplied to him abundantly IF he endures to end in Christ.
Those who insist on the more theatrical view of prophecy have probably already fallen prey to the false prophet (or risk the danger of strong delusion) and his wiles. FEW today are circumspect concerning their faith, redeeming the time wisely, realizing that the days are evil. FEW Guard their hearts, Test the spirits and know the difference between truth and error. The prevailing winds of false doctrine are at Gail force in our time and NO ONE is sounding the alarm!
So sleep on church, enjoy the party, raise your voices to heaven and shout for Joy! Perhaps you can drown out the cries of the damned and the shrieks of millions of souls falling daily into hell fire while you stuff your face full of food and satisfy your belly with worldly pleasures! You have sown to the wind and will reap the whirlwind.
You have plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity! Sow for yourself righteousness and reap in mercy! Break up your fallow ground and seek the Lord while He may yet be found! The Day of the Lord will be darkness and not light, a Day of vengeance and flaming fire from above, to punish those who will not OBEY the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who have received the ‘mark’ …..the evil eye of the flesh they have REFUSED to pluck out and cast from them….will be removed from His presence forever, but His Saints will reign with Him in eternity.
"He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
Also see
UNVEILING THE LIE
http://www.standingthegap.org/
Mike Desario’s tracts
http://www.matthew548.com/Mikes.html
