After
writing about the “beast
or
the antichrist” and “the dragon
– the devil or Satan” being worshiped by people upon the earth,
John the apostle wrote, “If
any man have an ear, let him hear.”
John continued with the words, “He
that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with
the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the
faith of the saints. 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 exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and
causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so
that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of
men, And deceives 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 causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads”,
and in chapter thirteen and verse seventeen of Revelation John shares
how, “no
man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name... or
the number of” the
antichrist's
“name” where
we read:
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.
The
verse reads, “And
that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark,
...”
John
began with the words, “and
that no man”
which means “so no person whether male or female” “might
buy”
or “is able or capable to be in the market place to do business
there”
“or sell”
which means “or barter toward whatever is sold” “save
that he that had the mark”
or “except and whether that person received, holds, owns and
possesses the imprinted stamp or brand of the antichrist”. John
shared how no one will be able to do business of any nature unless
they have “the mark
of the beast or antichrist”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
or
the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
John
continued with words, “or
the name”
which means “or that which is used for everything which the name
covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the
mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “of
the beast”
or “which belongs to the ferocious and wild creature or
antichrist”, “or
the number”
which means “or the fixed and definite number” “of
his name” or
“of the beast or antichrist's rank, authority, interests, pleasure,
command, excellence and deeds”. Unless a person has the “mark,
name or number of the name of
the “beast”
or “antichrist”, they shall not be able to do business of any
kind.
When
we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we can imagine the
impact this forced compliance by the “false prophet” will make in
people's lives. No commerce or business will occur unless a person
“receives” the “mark,
name or number of the name
of the “beast”
or “antichrist”, and regardless of the person's position or rank
of influence, they shall not be exempt. God desires to save people
from this terrible time where people will be killed or die for
refusing these mandates, and only a relationship with Jesus Christ,
God's Son, will give the hope of “everlasting
life”. Today is the
day of “salvation” before these things come to pass, and woe be
to those who must receive the antichrist's brands.
Next
time John shares about “the number
of the beast”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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