The mark of the beast Week 26, 2013

“Have you heard? America is demanding that those who want health insurance must have an implanted mark on their hands to be eligible. The mark of the beast!” Calm down; I have not read such yet. The mark of the beast is compulsory for all peoples and nations not just in America. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name Rev 13:16, 17(ESV). “But this is how it all starts; from a compulsory requirement in an optional matter...”

That is not how it starts at all. Do you think the mark of the beast is physical primarily? “What do you mean?” When God’s people are marked in Rev 7:3(ESV)  "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." do you think it is a physical mark seen by people on their heads? “But Paul talked of bearings marks in his own body: From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus  Gal 6:17(ESV). Yes, my dear. Those were marks made by the beatings and persecutions he bore. This issue of the mark of the beast is first of all spiritual. This teaching will lull people into hell o! No one who takes the mark of the beast will enter into eternal life. "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath… and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Rev 14:9, 10(ESV).  Mark that.”

See, the verse you have quoted clearly states where it all starts: worship Rev 13:4, 8. People become what they worship. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves Jer 2:5(GNB).  It is those who refuse to worship Jesus that are marked by the beast. Those who worship pleasure are marked for destruction. When God asked the Israelites to mark their foreheads with his words: have them fixed on your hand for a sign and marked on your brow Dt 11:18(BBE) was he referring to the physical? Is it not that you see the word, meditate on the word (referring to forehead), and that you act and live by the word (referring to the right hand) Josh1:8? Those with the mark of the beast first of all think and act like him. At the end of the day everyone is marked; either by the angels of God or by the beast. I may not know what the mark is but I know who marks me. What or who do you worship? “So you don’t believe in a physical mark huh?” That’s not what I said. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear Mk 4:23(ESV).