I think the verse is telling us basically that the mark of the beast must remain secret and unknown if the Bible told us blatantly what the mark of the beast was, then we wouldn't be using our own free will to accept it or deny it. It must be ours alone. but thats my interpretation? I may be completely wrong
As far as the Communion ritual, to reproduce it exactly would be awesome. But I don't think that it is absolutely necessary b/c say there is a small church in Uganda with no money or access to unleavened bread or wine, but they want to have a communion ceremony so they use whatever they have say rice and water. Does this make their communion less holy than the church that can get wine and crackers? But I guess if a church had access to wine and unleavened bread ya they probably should use what they were told in the Bible to use.
I have a question for you since we are talking about communion. I don't go to church. I did when I was a child and through my teen years but I never took communion. I've recently felt the need to do a communion and im thinking about making a little service for me and my kids.? Just kinda entertaining the thought right now.
I think that is is a great idea to do communion at home, this would be how it was originally done. Except in a upstairs room, as was the Jewish custom. Paul got angry about the missuse of it in the early church. Heres the whole chapter 1Corinthians 11:17
Observing the Lord's Supper
(
Matthew 26:26-30;
Mark 14:22-26;
Luke 22:14-23)
17Now in this that I declare
unto you I praise
you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20When ye come together therefore into one place,
this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21For in eating every one taketh before
other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise
you not.
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the
same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24And when he had given thanks, he brake
it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also
he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink
it, in remembrance of me.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink
this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of
that cup.
29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30For this cause many
are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
