I never understood, if we knew what this number was, then we would have to be a complete imbisil to put this number on our foreheads and hands! Even if it was disguised as voluntary (which I doubt it will be, you have a choice- take the mark or starve!, or die! Not much of a choice. Sounds like the story of Nebuchadnezzar).
666, 616 I think I would stay away from branding me with anything on my forehead or hand.
For a long time I held a different view. I dont know that it was right, it was just plausable. When Jesus came he changed things, now in order to be saved, redeemed it wasnt enough to be a child of Abraham under the covenant. You had to believe in Jesus. The law and offerings could no longer save you. So I went back to what was said in Exodus, God had told his people passover would for ever be a sign, this annual festival would be like a mark branded on your hands and forehead. A reminder to always keep the Lords instructions in your minds and on your lips. (In chapter 13 if you wanted a reference).
Well now that covenant was fulfilled through Jesus, he is the law in our hearts, the blood over our doorposts, our passover lamb-we carry his mark.
Now there are a lot of things I havent totally researched, or know. But this whole mark thing. You needing it to buy, sell and trade. At least as far as the Temple is concerned, they were bardering in souls. Outside in the courtyards of the temple goats, bulls, sheep, rams, doves, pigeons, heifers, ewes, all the things needed to forgive sins were being sold. (Because of Jesus all this would be taken away. One man I believe went up to Peter and said he wanted to buy the gifts of God, and Peter told him the gifts of God were not for sale and that he was a wicked man. What was going on in the temple was wrong, that is why Jesus got mad and called it a den of theives, they were not just stealing from the people and their pockets, they were stealing from God).
The old ways clashing with the new. Jewish traditions clashing with christianity. It is strange, because they both believe in the same God. One stuck in tradition, and this tradition has become a trap to decieve them.
(I personally had held the view, that maybe one day a temple would be built again. And again you would have jewish tradition vs christianity. It is possible, they seem to want a temple back in their country again so bad. But the thing is, what good is a temple, a building of stone and brick, when all along the temple was and is Jesus. And he is the Temple they need in Jerusalem. And he is the mark they need in their foreheads and hands.
And then one day, Jesus will remove the blinders placed on the eyes of the jews and take the stoppers out of their ears so they can hear and understand with their hearts, and turn to their Lord for a healing. And then weep and mourn for their only son and embrace him, and on that day confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!)
Wear the full armour of God, and the mark of the beast wont matter to you.
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