Getting prepared and ready for the mark

[ND Christian guy]

The word tells us we won't be able to buy or sell anything without accepting the mark of the beast. But my question is, if that would include having to pay bills and taxes with it as well. If that's the case, the only way we can survive would be to live detached from the world deep in the wilderness and learn survival skills. If we can't pay for our mortgage or rent without it then I truly believe we better start to learn how to survive off the land. What are your thoughts?
Thank you. Eric

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Ready for the mark? The mark is not for the true believers in Christ.

The rapture will happen before the mark of the beast anyway. And even if you do not believe in rapture, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit if you are in Christ, you do cannot get marked by the beast.

 

[ND Christian guy]

Ready for the mark? The mark is not for the true believers in Christ.

The rapture will happen before the mark of the beast anyway. And even if you do not believe in rapture, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit if you are in Christ, you do cannot get marked by the beast.

I believe Christians will have to suffer "some" of the tribulations before the rapture. Some believe we'll be raptured before tribulations, others believe we'll be raptured after and some believe we'll have to experience some of the tribulations (as I do). If you are one who believes we'll be raptured before tribulations then I guess the question isn't for you but thank you kindly for your answer.

 

[Richard T]

I believe Christians will have to suffer "some" of the tribulations before the rapture. Some believe we'll be raptured before tribulations, others believe we'll be raptured after and some believe we'll have to experience some of the tribulations (as I do). If you are one who believes we'll be raptured before tribulations then I guess the question isn't for you but thank you kindly for your answer.

I too believe in a pre-trib rapture, but of course it is good to think about what believers might go through if they are on earth during the tribulation. Any believer that would not want to take the mark of the beast is going to eventually have some problems as you foresee.
I don't know this teacher or his background but i think these percentages are correct about death during the tribulation
"2. The places where numbers are given are in Revelation 6:7, 8, and 9:15, 18. The first reference indicates that 25% of the world’s population will die. The second mentions that 33% of the remaining population will die. That means over 50% of the world’s population will die, or at today’s numbers, 3.4 billion would remain. But, that is not all. There are other devastations that are not included in this number." source: During tribulation, how many people will survive

So there is a lot to navigate if one went fully through the tribulation. The mark of the beast is just one of these things. It likely can't be rolled out all at once. There are 680 million without electricity today. I personally think their mark might be a scar or tattoo. Where there is enough tech though, it will be pretty hard to maneuver and yes, I suppose one could live off the grid for a time. Many see underground barter as possible, but some of course will be confronted to take the mark or die. I do think it is fine to try and stay alive as long as possible, possible one can make an impact on some unbelievers and having some preparation is fine. Either way one has to trust God and not in their preparation.

 

[ND Christian guy]

I too believe in a pre-trib rapture, but of course it is good to think about what believers might go through if they are on earth during the tribulation. Any believer that would not want to take the mark of the beast is going to eventually have some problems as you foresee.
I don't know this teacher or his background but i think these percentages are correct about death during the tribulation
"2. The places where numbers are given are in Revelation 6:7, 8, and 9:15, 18. The first reference indicates that 25% of the world’s population will die. The second mentions that 33% of the remaining population will die. That means over 50% of the world’s population will die, or at today’s numbers, 3.4 billion would remain. But, that is not all. There are other devastations that are not included in this number." source: During tribulation, how many people will survive

So there is a lot to navigate if one went fully through the tribulation. The mark of the beast is just one of these things. It likely can't be rolled out all at once. There are 680 million without electricity today. I personally think their mark might be a scar or tattoo. Where there is enough tech though, it will be pretty hard to maneuver and yes, I suppose one could live off the grid for a time. Many see underground barter as possible, but some of course will be confronted to take the mark or die. I do think it is fine to try and stay alive as long as possible, possible one can make an impact on some unbelievers and having some preparation is fine. Either way one has to trust God and not in their preparation.

Thank you so much for the great explanation. Do you have any info on whether or not we'll still be able to pay our bills without taking the mark? It says we won't be able to buy or sell anything without it but I wonder if that includes not being able to pay for our property taxes etc. If that's the case we'd loose our homes and have to learn how to survive off grid.

 

[Richard T]

Thank you so much for the great explanation. Do you have any info on whether or not we'll still be able to pay our bills without taking the mark? It says we won't be able to buy or sell anything without it but I wonder if that includes not being able to pay for our property taxes etc. If that's the case we'd loose our homes and have to learn how to survive off grid.

You raise some good questions most (including I) have never thought about. Paying taxes is not literally buying or selling. Utilities are though. You buy electricity or water when you use it, (usually a monthly fee is involved too for just being connected) We might think we could prepay or that our dollars or other currency would be legal tender. However, I think the tribulation will bring a world currency, so your former access points for credit and currency are now under the command of the Anti-Christ. So it could be as simply as not taking the mark of the beast will freeze all your accounts and disallow any transactions. I imagine too the Anti-Christ will have some people that look for those that may barter and use alternate channels. So the idea to be as self sufficient as possible is a good one. Perhaps some family or friends that have the mark could help those that do not? Of course there could be a penalty for this.

So you know, the current payment of property taxes takes usually 1 to 3 years of not paying for the government to sell the property. But with the governmental changes who knows what will happen with taxes. What makes things interesting is if there is a rapture before or during the tribulation, assuming enough leave earth, their debts and all the surplus homes, cars, etc, will make things crazy economically no way for instance banks would be financially viable. Rev. 6:6 says "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine." A denarius is translated typically as a days wage. So that is some serious food inflation. Why such a lack of supply? Not only the natural disasters but to me it seems on average that rural people, those who work on farms, are far more likely to be believers in countries like the USA. They too are the ones more likely to be raptured. Of course it could be that there as no credit or other issues that create this lack of food. I even doubt storing gold or silver would help much, though at least there is something more tangible than any currency. Storing canned goods and freeze dried stuff might help for a couple of years if one can make them secure. I am not saying do nothing, but we would just have trust God even if we did all the right things.

 

[ND Christian guy]

You raise some good questions most (including I) have never thought about. Paying taxes is not literally buying or selling. Utilities are though. You buy electricity or water when you use it, (usually a monthly fee is involved too for just being connected) We might think we could prepay or that our dollars or other currency would be legal tender. However, I think the tribulation will bring a world currency, so your former access points for credit and currency are now under the command of the Anti-Christ. So it could be as simply as not taking the mark of the beast will freeze all your accounts and disallow any transactions. I imagine too the Anti-Christ will have some people that look for those that may barter and use alternate channels. So the idea to be as self sufficient as possible is a good one. Perhaps some family or friends that have the mark could help those that do not? Of course there could be a penalty for this.

So you know, the current payment of property taxes takes usually 1 to 3 years of not paying for the government to sell the property. But with the governmental changes who knows what will happen with taxes. What makes things interesting is if there is a rapture before or during the tribulation, assuming enough leave earth, their debts and all the surplus homes, cars, etc, will make things crazy economically no way for instance banks would be financially viable. Rev. 6:6 says "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine." A denarius is translated typically as a days wage. So that is some serious food inflation. Why such a lack of supply? Not only the natural disasters but to me it seems on average that rural people, those who work on farms, are far more likely to be believers in countries like the USA. They too are the ones more likely to be raptured. Of course it could be that there as no credit or other issues that create this lack of food. I even doubt storing gold or silver would help much, though at least there is something more tangible than any currency. Storing canned goods and freeze dried stuff might help for a couple of years if one can make them secure. I am not saying do nothing, but we would just have trust God even if we did all the right things.

Very true thank you! Well I live in the states in Colorado in the mountains but it isn't a self sustainable living because I do have bills and mortgage payments. I live in an area where I could survive from the land since we have a creek full of trout running through our property and also next to the national forest where there is plenty of wild life. I'm just trying to plan things out to not get caught by surprise. I know the Lord will provide during those times but am also wondering how much we'll have to suffer as far as food etc. I guess that's a question for the Lord if He is willing to answer it. I truly believe we have less than 10 years before all of this happens.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The word tells us we won't be able to buy or sell anything without accepting the mark of the beast. But my question is, if that would include having to pay bills and taxes with it as well. If that's the case, the only way we can survive would be to live detached from the world deep in the wilderness and learn survival skills. If we can't pay for our mortgage or rent without it then I truly believe we better start to learn how to survive off the land. What are your thoughts?
Thank you. Eric

See my signature for our Christian Prepper forum.

 

[linux.poet]

MOD HAT ON​

This thread has been moved from Exposition and Bible Study to Eschatology - Endtimes and Prophecy Forum.

Exposition and Bible Study is usually about passages of Scripture that you're studying and interpretation of specific verses, and this is a general Eschatology question.​

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[Richard T]

Very true thank you! Well I live in the states in Colorado in the mountains but it isn't a self sustainable living because I do have bills and mortgage payments. I live in an area where I could survive from the land since we have a creek full of trout running through our property and also next to the national forest where there is plenty of wild life. I'm just trying to plan things out to not get caught by surprise. I know the Lord will provide during those times but am also wondering how much we'll have to suffer as far as food etc. I guess that's a question for the Lord if He is willing to answer it. I truly believe we have less than 10 years before all of this happens.

Sounds to me like you are ahead of at least 99% of people. The rivers turning to blood Rev. 16:4 could dent your area if Christians are still around at that point. Some say it is a third, and I imagine you can find snow and other sources if you needed. I always love rain barrels or other storage for preparation. A relatively easy and cheap item that really could make a difference in any type of disruptive event.

 

[ND Christian guy]

Sounds to me like you are ahead of at least 99% of people. The rivers turning to blood Rev. 16:4 could dent your area if Christians are still around at that point. Some say it is a third, and I imagine you can find snow and other sources if you needed. I always love rain barrels or other storage for preparation. A relatively easy and cheap item that really could make a difference in any type of disruptive event.

Hopefully it doesn't mean that all of the rivers will turn to blood. I thought I was ahead by living where I do but if they repo the house for not accepting the mark there goes that.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The word tells us we won't be able to buy or sell anything without accepting the mark of the beast. But my question is, if that would include having to pay bills and taxes with it as well. If that's the case, the only way we can survive would be to live detached from the world deep in the wilderness and learn survival skills. If we can't pay for our mortgage or rent without it then I truly believe we better start to learn how to survive off the land. What are your thoughts?
Thank you. Eric

My thoughts are that anyone who thinks they're going to make me kow-tow to an anti-Christian hegemony should get ready for disappointment.