Is prepping a reasonable strategy to avoid the Mark of the Beast

A Physical Mark?

A couple things mentioned in the video that I disagree with.

1. The mark of the beast being a physical mark in the forehead or hand.
2. The mark of the beast being a physical mark that you have to have to buy or sell.

The Seal of God is given by angels which points to it being a spiritual mark (see Revelation 7:2-3). If the Seal of God is a spiritual mark, it makes sense that the mark of the beast is also a spiritual mark.

According to Revelation 13, there are actually three identifiers.

The identifiers (mark, name, number) are symbolic of allegiance to the beast whether by thought or action. The forehead is symbolic of the mind. The right hand is symbolic of action. The mark can be received by conscious choice or action. The Seal of God can be received by conscious choice only because salvation is not by works (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

Whether or not you receive the mark or the Seal comes down to who you worship (see Revelation 13:11-18).

While technology will most likely be used to enforce compliance with the dictates of the beast, no part it can be a literal mark of the beast if the mark of the beast is spiritual. There will not be a physical mark in the forehead or right hand, just as there will not be a physical Seal of God in the forehead.


Faith

I agree with the sentiment of the video, that we should have faith in God, that He will provide. I also believe that we should do what we can to reasonably provide for ourselves, and have a little set back for emergencies. I don't mean stockpiling huge amounts of food, I mean having a bit extra on hand in case the power goes out for an extended period of time, or food/supply shortages.


Fleeing to the Mountains

Jesus gave a prophecy in Matthew 24, that there would be a time to "flee to the mountains". This has been a repeating prophecy throughout history; Christians fleeing persecution. It will happen again in the last days when great tribulation starts.


Notice that Jesus said when the time comes you should flee immediately without taking anything with you. This points to the fact that the Lord will provide for His people in the wilderness.

The fleeing of Christians from persecution has always been from populated areas to the wilderness. In other words, country living.


Country Living

Many Adventists are moving to the country and living in communities where they can be self-sustaining and support each other. In this way the lifestyle isn't prepping in the traditional sense, but growing and living off of your own food.

If you're living in the country you are already away from the cities and won't have to flee. You can sustain yourself. If your sustenance fails then have faith that God will provide.

Considering the upheaval that happens before Jesus returns, there will come a time when Christians will have to have faith and rely on God for food and water before Jesus returns.

Freth said:

A Physical Mark?

A couple things mentioned in the video that I disagree with.

1. The mark of the beast being a physical mark in the forehead or hand.
2. The mark of the beast being a physical mark that you have to have to buy or sell.

The Seal of God is given by angels which points to it being a spiritual mark (see Revelation 7:2-3). If the Seal of God is a spiritual mark, it makes sense that the mark of the beast is also a spiritual mark.

According to Revelation 13, there are actually three identifiers.

Revelation 13:16-17 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.​

​

The identifiers (mark, name, number) are symbolic of allegiance to the beast whether by thought or action. The forehead is symbolic of the mind. The right hand is symbolic of action. The mark can be received by conscious choice or action. The Seal of God can be received by conscious choice only because salvation is not by works (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

Whether or not you receive the mark or the Seal comes down to who you worship (see Revelation 13:11-18).

While technology will most likely be used to enforce compliance with the dictates of the beast, no part it can be a literal mark of the beast if the mark of the beast is spiritual. There will not be a physical mark in the forehead or right hand, just as there will not be a physical Seal of God in the forehead.


Faith

I agree with the sentiment of the video, that we should have faith in God, that He will provide. I also believe that we should do what we can to reasonably provide for ourselves, and have a little set back for emergencies. I don't mean stockpiling huge amounts of food, I mean having a bit extra on hand in case the power goes out for an extended period of time, or food/supply shortages.


Fleeing to the Mountains

Jesus gave a prophecy in Matthew 24, that there would be a time to "flee to the mountains". This has been a repeating prophecy throughout history; Christians fleeing persecution. It will happen again in the last days when great tribulation starts.

Matthew 24:16-18 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.​

Notice that Jesus said when the time comes you should flee immediately without taking anything with you. This points to the fact that the Lord will provide for His people in the wilderness.

The fleeing of Christians from persecution has always been from populated areas to the wilderness. In other words, country living.


Country Living

Many Adventists are moving to the country and living in communities where they can be self-sustaining and support each other. In this way the lifestyle isn't prepping in the traditional sense, but growing and living off of your own food.

If you're living in the country you are already away from the cities and won't have to flee. You can sustain yourself. If your sustenance fails then have faith that God will provide.

Considering the upheaval that happens before Jesus returns, there will come a time when Christians will have to have faith and rely on God for food and water before Jesus returns.

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Also, SOP tells us anything we 'prep' will be taken. Let me see if can find it..

reddogs said:

Also, SOP tells us anything we 'prep' will be taken. Let me see if can find it..

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Early Writings, page 56.

joechristianwarrior said:

You don't think there is a difference in the Revelation between the children of God being 'sealed', and the children of the devil receiving a 'mark' - but one is spiritual (God's), while the other is physical (mark)?

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Notice, it isn't a physical mark.

As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome—“the mark of the beast.” And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive “the mark of the beast.” Great Controversy, p. 449.1

• The sign of allegiance; the mark of the beast.
• Choose the commandments of men and continue in transgression -> receive the mark of the beast.

joechristianwarrior said:

Hey y'all,

I have recently been engaging with different believers on the concept of prepping, and the various pros and cons around it. I think we'd all (or most of us at least!) agree that "tearing down barns to build bigger) is not the most consistent strategy when it comes to the end times or the Mark of the Beast for a Christian living by faith in God. That said, I think there are reasonable arguments in favor of responsible and moderate "preparation"... although we might debate on what that looks like exactly.

Anyhow, I'm curious to hear what you think of the arguments made in this video, and whether you think its position is reasonable or not. I think to the COVID time period in particular, where everyone felt glad they had some 'stocks' of things like toilet paper in advance, before things got all closed down on lockdown. We don't know what exactly will be the surrounding circumstances when the Mark fully comes. But it does make sense to give it some thought in advance, before that time fully comes.

Here is the link for the video:

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• Ultimately It's about a spiritual choice of allegiance and worship.
• It's about choosing to obey God's law (including the Sabbath) or the dictates of a corrupt religious/political system (symbolized by the beast and its image).
• It signifies allegiance to the world system that opposes God's authority, especially concerning worship.

It will indeed happen some day ... there will be a mingling of church and state globally and during this time it will be a lot like the dark ages ... no buying or selling unless one complies with the global worship system ... persecution of those who will not comply.

Regardless ... It's always a good idea to have a few months of emergency supplies on hand as we could experience temporal situations that might happen such as weather situations or disruptions in the delivery systems, possibly wars.

My personal phrase of the times is 'Dependency Will Be Our Demise'. We, in the first world, have in less than a century gone from
millennia of independence in every aspect of life to total dependance on someone/thing else to provide. Simple survival is a lost art. Product shortages and people panic. No power for a month and 80% of North American population dies. There is no way of prepping oneself out of that situation without a system change, and that is not going to happen as Corporatism, the new world government, has gobbled up everything as we have promised them our dependance. They were way ahead of us in prepping for this point in time as the beginnings of corporatism was the beginnings of our dependency. For the masses, there is no way back from this newest world order.

What will be , will be. It's no one's fault but our own. We should be focused on the here and now and specifically the second commandment which tells us to not only serve God but each other... today. Prep all the materials you want, but somebody will come and take it away from you. That has always been the way of man. If we don't live trusting God to provide our manna on a daily basis, why should He provide in a coming emergency after we ignored Him previously? He is not an emergency blanket. If there is to be prepping for the masses, prep by doing His Will and trusting in Him... now. Allegiance must be life long and not when convenient.

Here it is...

Every Earthly Support Will Be Cut Off​

Hoarded wealth will soon be worthless. When the decree shall go forth that none shall buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast, very much means will be of no avail. God calls for us now to do all in our power to send forth the warning to the world.—The Review and Herald, March 21, 1878.

The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. We came near having this realized in California a short time since, but this was only the threatening of the blowing of the four winds. As yet they are held by the four angels. We are not just ready. There is a work yet to be done, and then the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon the earth.—Testimonies for the Church 5:152 (1882).

In the last great conflict in the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers they will be forbidden to buy or sell.—The Desire of Ages, 121, 122 (1898).

Satan says ... “For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with the world in transgressing God’s law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.”—Prophets and Kings, 183, 184 (c. 1914).

Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruins.–3MR 312 (1891).
When God’s restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come.–3MR 314 (1897).
The Lord gives warnings to the inhabitants of the earth, as in the Chicago fire and the fires in Melbourne, London, and the city of New York.–Ms 127, 1897.
The end is near and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had.–1MR 248 (1902).

Houses and Lands of No Use
Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. . . .
I saw that if any held on to their property, and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. . . . But if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell.–EW 56, 57 (1851).
It is too late now to cling to worldly treasures. Soon unnecessary houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone, for the curse of God will rest more and more heavily upon the earth. The call comes, Sell that ye have, and give alms [Luke 12:33]. This message should be faithfully borne–urged home to the hearts of the people–that God’s own property may be returned to Him in offerings to advance His work in the world.–16MR 348 (1901).

reddogs said:

Here it is...

Every Earthly Support Will Be Cut Off​

...and then the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon the earth.—Testimonies for the Church 5:152 (1882)

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reddogs said:

Consider the following, Rev. 7:1-4, note these four angles are to hurt the land sea and trees. In the following chapter 8, more details about the destruction these four angels bring upon the earth is given. But first the service at the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary will come to an end. When it does, all inhabitants will be made aware because their will be world wide peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Literal events. (However, our early church fathers move these events out of their chronological order to the time just before Christ return. Is this any different than the Catholic Church doing a way with the four command and making two of the tenth? In both cases the word of God has been altered because of the churches understanding.) Following the termination of verse 2-5 the seven angles prepare to blow their trumpets. Note carefully that the first four trumpets will harm one third of the land, sea, and trees, previously mentioned in Rev. 7:1-4.

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reddogs said:

Terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will certainly become heaps of ruble...

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This will happen because the trumpet judgments start the tribulation, and the first four trumpets destroy a third of the earth. World wide infrastructures will collapse, buildings, transportation, manufacturing, communication systems, electrical grids, and health systems.

reddogs said:

When God’s restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come.–3MR 314 (1897).

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Rev. 8:2-5) is when Jesus ends corporate probation for mankind, and the wrath of God begins by means of the first four trumpets, later God release Satan and his demons from the spirit realm and they appear on earth in visible form and bring suffering to individuals but not allowed to harm the earth. (See Rev. 9)

reddogs said:

The Lord gives warnings to the inhabitants of the earth,
The end is near and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had.–1MR 248 (1902).

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Again this is because of God's trumpet judgments.

reddogs said:

Soon unnecessary houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone, for the curse of God will rest more and more heavily upon the earth. 16MR 348 (1901).

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True, but Mrs. White gives no prophetic events in support. Remember the Bible only should be our final appeal of which we must place our faith.

I have shared some of those events that support her and those of others that have posted of the destruction, and devastation that shall come upon the earth in closing events, but give no prophetic texts to support such claims. This is not God's way, for He tells us that He does nothing, but first He warns His servants the prophets.

Que Sera, Sera. Ours is to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Matthew 6: 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.