The Mark of the Beast

The time has come. It's the day of the big test that decides if you move on to the next grade or not. You studied all week, you got up early and ate a good breakfast, and you might have even studied with your friends right before you take the test. It comes time to finally take the test and you know for a fact you nailed it. You knew the answer to every question on there. But you get the results and you got every question wrong! It turns out that you marked the answer for question #1 in the #2 blank on the answer sheet and every answer after that was wrong. All your hard work was for nothing. And all because of one little mistake.


Hey, it's Josh and it seems that school is on everyone's minds lately, sothis seemed like the perfect example for what I need to say. Well let's change a few details of that story so I more clearly get to my point.

You were born and raised a Christian. You've been saved through Jesus. You go to church every Wednesday and Sunday, and you bring someone with you every week. You read the Bible everyday. You don't listen to Slipknot, Eminem, or Hollywood Undead. You listen to Chris Tomlin, Josh Wilson, and David Crowder Band. You don't watch Freddy vs. Jason, you watch The Passion of the Christ. You are the perfect example of a Christian. But one day you're watching the news and you hear that soon everyone will need a chip implanted in them to be able to buy stuff, so you decide to go out and get one of those chips. You find out later, in the Tribulation, that what you got was the infamous mark of the beast. So now you've slipped and all you've done up till now was wasted.

See, as Christians, it is important for us to be able to recognize the mark of the beast when it's released because once you get it, you can't turn back. Even if you are a Christian. YOU CAN'T GET IT NO MATTER WHAT!!!

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Revelation 14:9-11

Ok, so we know that we need to avoid getting the mark, but how do we know what it is? Well we don't, but God wouldn't tell us not to get the mark without at least giving us some hints about what it is.

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(666)" Revelation 13:16-18

So we know that the mark of the beast:
1. Is on the right hand or forehead.
2. Is what will allow people to buy and sell.

Be very careful brothers and sisters, because we live in dangerous times and I pray that when the time comes we will all recognize the mark and avoid it.



God bless you,

Josh