The Mark Of The Beast

Will you accept the Mark of the beast? Without it, you won’t be able to buy or sell. With it, you’ll suffer the plagues of Revelation. What should you do?

It seems that no subject has intrigued and baffled people more than this mysterious Mark spoken of in the book or Revelation. Many books have been written and many sermons have been preached about this subject. Scholars and theologians have offered many different ideas about it.

Some suggest it is a microchip implanted in one’s forehead or an invisible mark or a visible Mark. Some even think it could be one’s credit card or debit card.

But what does the Bible reveal about this puzzling mark?

The key passage reads: “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, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or number of his name. -Revelation 13:16-17-

Verse 18 identifies the related “number of the beast” as 666.

If one does not have one of these identifying signs, he or she will not be able to legally transact business. This person will find it difficult to earn a living, to hold a job or to run a business.

What Or Who Is The Beast Of Revelation?

John, the one God chose to write down the book of Revelation, saw a vision of the future. Here is what he wrote concerning the beast:

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. -Revelation 13:1-2-

If you are not a follower of God, this sounds unreal or from a science fiction novel. Before I was saved this is exactly what I thought. As a follower of God. I’ve have seen many things that have come to pass from reading the God’s word.

To understand what or who this beast in the book of Revelation is, we need to begin in Daniel 7:1-8, where we find imagery of four animals, representing the first great historical empires. These were a Lion (Babylon), a bear (Persia), a leopard (Greece) and the fourth beast (Rome).

It is the forth beast described by Daniel and recorded by John that would have “ten horns” and receive a “deadly wound” before rising again before the end of this age. -Daniel 7:7-8-; Revelation 13:3- This empire is the “beast” of the book of Revelation.

It should be noted that the human leader of this revived empire is also referred to as “the beast” -Revelation 19:20- The mark of the best is the mark or identifying sign if this empire.

The book of Revelation explains that the dragon gives the beast its power and authority. This dragon is Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9-; Revelation 20:2) uses this beast to rule and deceive the world.

A Second Beast Causes People To Receive The Mark Of The Beast.

Now let’s turn or attention to the word “he” in Revelation 13:16. The passage says, “He causes all… to receive a mark.” Who is “he”? Verse 11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”

These characteristics indicate a false leader who “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.” -verse 12- This second beast is called the “false prophet.” -Revelation 19:20- This mark or sign represents a final revival of the Roman Empire at the time of the end. The religious leader that supports the beast “causes” people to accept it.

The mark of the beast represents disobedience to God.

The mark of the beast will separate people into two groups. One will except the mark and the other group will reject it.

John writes, “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on their forehead or on their right hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which will be poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” -Revelation 14:9-10-

This shows great suffering will come on those who receive this mark of the beast.

In verse 12 we seethe group of people who do not receive this mark. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and faith in Jesus.” This is speaking of the saints of God-all those who are obedient and faithful followers of Jesus.

Throughout the Bible obeying God is a mark or sign of those who are God’s.

The book of Revelation says that those who receive the mark will be subject to the last seven plagues, while the obedient saints are described as having attained “victory over the beast.” -Revelation 15:2- These faithful people will be given eternal life and reign with Christ at his second coming.

It should be noted that there is one commandment of God that is often closely connected to one’s ability to do business and that identifies God’s people. Of God’s 10 Commandments, the forth Commandment is the one most likely to affect one’s ability to work, earn a living and do business.

The command says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” -Exodus 20:8-10-

Most people think it doesn’t make any difference what day one observes, but it does to God. In this age, it takes the “faith of Jesus” to avoid working on the Sabbath and keep it holy.

The Sabbath is called a “sign” between God and His people in the Bible. -Exodus 31:13, 17; Ezekiel 20:12- It identifies God’s people as being sanctified or set apart by God.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath. -Mark 2:27-28- The Sabbath today is still a commandment and an identifying sign of God’s people.

Bring Your Own Sunshine

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather always bring your own sunshine.

I believe that how we feel shouldn’t depend on our surroundings. It is all a question of perspective. Maybe you are going to play football outside, but then it starts raining. You might start to turn angry, or you might thing of the rain as a wonderful chance to learn to control the ball on the wet grass. And if you have ever played football, you should know it’s much funnier to tackle on wet grass than on dry grass.

We can decide what kind of mood we bring with us into a room. It might be grey weather all around us, but we have the possibility of bringing sunshine into the room. We have the chance to make a change in our surroundings. It’s incredible what a smile might do to the people you meet. And it is incredible what a smile might do to yourself.

Don’t let the weather destroy your mood today. Bring your own sunshine with you and let the sun rays coming from you hit everyone you meet today.

Withstanding The Storm- You Are Stronger Than You Think

Have you ever watched a tree withstand a strong thunderstorm? The branches quiver, the leaves flap backwards in the wind, and the top sways from side to side. As lightning flashes and thunderclaps sound, the tree trembles and roils in the downpour of heavy rain. However, when the storm ceases and the clouds roll away, the tree still stands. Yes, there may be some vulnerable places of stripped bark, so branches may be missing; and a smattering of leaves may rest on the ground below; but the tree still stands.

Nature often offers hints to the principles of living as nature is itself alive. When we consider a tree outlasts a storm, we often give credit to the roots for its survival. Solid wood, thick roots, and an unmovable trunk are the key features that make up the essence of a tree tree. Planted deeply and firmly in the ground, a tree is a tree because it’s roots and does not move from where it first blooms. By withstanding a storm, a tree merely lives up to its

We, like a tree, have amazing features, an essence that defines who you are all of your capabilities. Though we may not always feel it, or fully understand it,it is our nature to be strong. Consider all the you have been through-and you are still here! You are strong. Just as a tree was meant to last through storms, so have you been designed to withstand the elements to stay upright, to remain rooted and grounded where you’ve been planted. You are stronger that you think. Yes, there may be some vulnerable spots where you bark has been stripped down, and there maybe some missing and some torn leaves during the changing seasons of your life, but like a tree that can weather the harvest storm, you, by nature, have been created to be strong.

What keeps our strength from showing? What convinces us that we are weak? Our misconceptions can come from two places: external influences and internal lies. Challenging circumstances are the external elements. The storms we face in life that we cannot control can be excessively harsh and capable of wearing us down. Whether these downpours are initiated by so called love ones, workplace issues, health concerns, or economic conditions, we can find ourselves feeling battered and weak and left with poor esteem, dashed hopes, and brokenness. However, strength presents the opportunity for light to shine. Even a single lit match can remove the blackness from a room, proving that a simple show of strength, however slights, is still enough to overpower a storm. Don’t let the elements fool you. You are still strong.

Internal lies try to convince us that we are weak. Listen to your self-talk. Is your mind focused on messages of defeat and compromise? Are you continuing convincing yourself that you don’t matter, that you are not worthy, that you have no place or right to be where you are? You are strong. Tell yourself that and believe it. If you don’t think you are strong, ask yourself why you think that you are not. Where did the idea that you are weak come from! Is that belief really true? Why are you holding on to it? What truth about yourself, about your strength, can you now believe?

Don’t be afraid to assert your strength. It is okay to do so. Know that strength does not have to growl or roar, beat or batter. Consider again the tree. It makes no noise by itself. It remains quiet unless the elements dictate otherwise. It stands steady and still when at peace. Like a tree, exist in your strength. Recognize when to make noise and when to bend with the breeze, but don’t be easily moved. You are strong.

Not Sure What To Pray For?

Talking to God doesn’t always feel easy, but if we want to know God more, then we need to know how to talk humbly and honestly with Him.

Here are three things that might encourage you as you draw near to God through prayer.

Pick one or two points that stand out to you, and use them to create a Prayer in your own version.

God isn’t concerned about how eloquent your words sound. He just wants to spend time with you. Some of the best conversations with God happen when you simply share what’s on your mind and then give Him the space to respond.

Try Asking:

God, what should I do about….?

God, what do you think about….?

God, would you…?

God, why did this…?

Keep it real

God isn’t going to get mad at you for being honest, so be authentic when you pray. Remember, nothing can separate you from God’s love. So if you’re not sure what to say, tell God that. If you’re frustrated about a situation, say so. He wants you to approach Him with confidence and boldness.

Talk to God about a concern you might have right now.

Try saying:

I’m struggling with..

I need help with…

I don’t understand why…

I’m frustrated because…

Keep showing up

Praying might feel awkward at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. This week continue to make prayer a habit by having at least 5 minute conversation with God every day.

Here are some conversation starters:

I’m hoping for…

I’m thankful for…

I’m excited because…

Today, I noticed…

You will be surprised when God starts showing up for your life. Pleasantly surprised.

How To Escape Despair

“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” -Joseph Campbell-

I have lost a lot of friends in my life. Each time I came face to face with the pain of loss, I was presented with a choice. In looking back at my life, I have come to realize that the choice was always the same.

At age 18, for five years I squandered away my existence, lost in the world of drugs. Three friends who shared this life with me are no longer alive today due to the degree to which we immersed ourselves in despair and self-destruction.

As common place as this may sound, the truth is almost overnight, my life changed forever with a terrifying experience.

One night I was sitting in a strangers home doing drugs. When I found myself unable to move, paralyzed if you will. It was as if I was tied to the chair. As I listened to the sirens of the police cars. I knew our little party was going to be busted. Every one was running around and their I sat. Unable to move. Just then I was picked up by man, and was carried out the back door, thrown in a truck as we raced down a back road. That was the last night I did drugs. Never wanting to be in the position again.

Within the next few weekends three of my drugging buddies die of overdoses.

It triggered something in me to stop living with disregard for human life. I left my life of despair. And ended up marrying the man who picked me up on that night.

But, there was a lot of pain that I hid inside from my childhood. No one knew anything about. Soon that pain had taken over my life. It took me until my children were grown, to have the courage to tell a counselor the entire experience of my childhood and what I was experiencing because of it. That’s when I began to heal. Only when I told my secrets I was hiding all those years.

As I was holding on the pain, it had destroyed my emotional health, my physical health, and my spiritual health. I was suffering from a mood disorder that was wrecking havoc on my life. I was diagnosed with cancer, digestive system problems, migraines, and on and on it went.

I have come to learn that no matter what change you want to make in life, you have to fight for it and break through the hundreds of walls that come in the way of your true destiny.

Dr. Martin Luther King said, “change does not roll in on wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

The true measure of our lives is how we face that struggle is not the absence of fear, but the ability to persevere despite it. It is through struggle that we discover our potential. Beyond those fateful frontiers of our comfort zone we find our growth and freedom.

Every time death comes into my life, we are presented with the same choices: To embrace the struggle and create meaning beyond our boundaries of our existence or to life in our comfort zones of our own reality.

Sometimes we bring meaning to our lives through the wars going on within ourselves. But, we have to learn how to bring meaning by working in our conflict zones.

Types Of Dreams And Their Meanings

Some people dismiss the idea that dreams can have significance. Others believe that their spiritual meaning in every dream and that all should be interpreted and taken seriously.

I believe their is a balanced Biblical viewpoint that lies somewhere in between these two extremes.

Identifying which type of dreams we have had can help us determine whether to consider a potential meaning in the dream.

Processing Dreams

Dreaming is a normal function of the brain, occurring mainly during the REM stage of sleep.

Have you every noticed that when your worried about something you dream about it all night long? or you watch a scary movie and then have nightmares.

That is your brain processing your dreams.

Some processing dreams we don’t remember at all. And they fade quickly. Unless your a vivid dreamer and then you can easily recall them. Sometimes people refer to unusual dreams as meaningless dreams as pizza dreams.

The garage in garbage out applies to dreams. Whatever we feed our senses and mind with will find expression in our dreams.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 tells us “Much dreaming and many words as meaningless.

If you are uncertain about a dream you’ve had, pray about it. Perhaps it may fit in one of the other dream types.

Prophetic Dreams

I had a situation that I’d been praying for. It was about a young couple I knew that had just had a baby. The an had been abusing his wife and their baby. It had gotten so bad, she had a protective order against him, but he would try to break in the house. The police arrested him. I’ve been praying for God to fix the problem for a couple weeks.

One night I had a dream that the man would leave the state. I felt confident that is was God answering my prayer. In my dream. 3 months later he left and still had fines to pay. He fled the state and has had nothing to do with his wife of child for 3 years now.

“For God may seek in one way, or in another, yet a man doesn’t perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon us, while slumbering on our beds, he opens our ears and seals our understanding. -Job 33:14-16-

From the book of Genesis all the way through the Bible, dreams are one way that God speaks to His people.

However, even those who are gifted in the areas of dreams and dream interpretations only has a few dreams that were significant enough to be recorded in the Scriptures.

Joel and Peter mentioned dreams as one manifestation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a,one with prophecy and visions. -Acts 2:17-

There are many ways God uses Dreams in the Bible. Example:

  • Warnings. (Abimilek, Genesis 20:2-8)
  • Revealing destiny and the call of God. (Joseph, Genesis 37:5-10)
  • Importation of a spiritual gift or ability. (Solomon, 1 Kings 3-5)
  • A strategy for provision. ( Jacob, Genesis 31:10)
  • A sign of His presence. (Jacob’s ladder, Genesis 28:12)
  • Guidance. (Paul, Acts 16:9)

I occasionally have dreams that are greater than usual about future events that I feel God is using me to guide me. I think they are to inform me of my life and how to deal with situations when they occur. These are dreams where I awake immediately after them and I’m sitting straight up in bed.

Soul Dreams

Soul dreams reveal emotions, attitudes, or beliefs that we may by trying to deny or repress.

Signs You May Be Having A Soul Dream include:

  • Actual memories resurfacing in your dreams.
  • Vivid emotions that can link to an event, past, present or future.
  • Repeating, or reoccurring dreams.

Soul dreams can indicate a response, such as fear or anger, to an event that is happening at present in our lives, or that we are anticipating in the future. If something from your past is surfacing in a dream, you can be assure that it is ready to be dealt with and God is waiting to bring healing to you.

We should never dismiss soul dreams as being unimportant. They give us insight to our inner world and can be powerful when seen in God’s light.

If you’re having soul dreams that you believe are significant, pray about them and ask God how you should respond. If needed find a mentor or wise Christian council to pray with you and process whatever is coming to the surface. (I call my Pastor)