My advice is to stop listening to vain imaginations of premillennialism/Pre-Tribulation nonsenses and start reading the Bible yourself. It's just this type of confusion that permeates the church and leaves everyone wondering ...where is the truth! All the rampant
speculations about the mark today are just that--speculation. On top of their theories of Physical Nations at war with each other, A new Temples being re-built, attacks by Russia or Iraq on Israel, an evil man coming from Europe, a Messiah coming to reign physically on a throne in Middle Eastern Jerusalem, face masking, vaccines, new world order, chips, etc. as the mark of the beast,
it's all from the imaginations of men. There are even some people who insisted that the beast is symbolic yet the mark of that beast puts on people is literal?! How is that a consistent hermeneutic in any way whatsoever!
I assure you that the Scripture does
NOT talk about a "physical" mark that everyone is talking about in the news, youtube, etc. They believe that there will be a physical mark on the right hand or forehead in order to buy food, a house, clothing, etc. or face death under the rule of their so-called Antichrist, blah, blah. Rather, God is talking about a
SPIRITUAL MARK upon
unfaithful people WITHIN His congregation prior to Second Coming to divide His people before His return. He is specific about it.
Let me explain...
In the language of Revelation the mark is "symbolizing" they betray Christ and His church, turn away from God and serve the family of Satan. Yes, they were always unsaved and never regenerated, but they also were in some sense sanctified (
1st Corinthians 7:14; Hebrews 10:29) by being members of God's household among His Holy Spirit, even though they were unsaved. They were members in the same way as the Scribes and Pharisees were seated in the Old Testament Congregation of Christ and were peripheral believers (
Luke 8:13) appointed to rule there, and then fell as the congregation was removed out of its place, "and yet" they were never true believers. Their falling was
a sign that marked their end as part of the congregation of God.
Matthew 23:2
- "Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
- All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."
They were not true believers and yet were seated in the congregation, but like the church, they were deceived, even as a part of God's external covenanted church. Yes, the mark of the beast means they "sold out" to Satan and became his doulos or servant/slave to betray Christ. Likewise, those in the church marked refers to those in God's house who have been "given up" to betray their father's house.
God is talking about the "particular unsaved" people WITHIN HIS CONGREGATION who fell away from God now serve Satan. Not talking about all unsaved in the world, but
these unsaved in the church. For example, this has to 'symbolize" something to "received" in
the time of great evil and strong delusion in the church that marks them for destruction. For example, apostasy!
The context is that all "received" the mark who bowed down to worship this beast that arose, and only these at this time could buy and sell. By the same token, those who didn't apostatize (True Christians) to worship the beast did not "receive" this mark and were "then" not allowed to buy and sell.
Revelation 13:14-16
- "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
- And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
- 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:"
Exactly what to "buy and sell" if one has a mark. They are marked by Satan in order to buy His false doctrines coming out of the false prophets and Christs in the church!
Again it, not a "symbol" of merely being born in trespass and sin as a slave to Satan like all the unsaved in the world outside the church, but
a symbol of something happening to some "particular unsaved" afterward when they are in God's house and succumb to worship the beast. We were
all born in trespass and sin, but we all don't receive this mark to buy and sell. Clearly it is "only" those who were deceived.
Deceived and fallen away to worship the beast "equals" receive the mark!
While the professed Christians around us "receive" this mark in order to "buy and sell", which is a
symbol of working in the church buying and selling false doctrines. But the True Christians
who refuse to buy and sell because they are upheld to refuse to worship the beast or receive his mark or paternal name. By the Spirit of God, the elect refuses to join that family, kinship or generation of evil.
Matthew 3:7
- "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
A family of snakes WITHIN God's congregation who are scribed/marked to not be able to escape the damnation of hell, fallen to serve their father the Devil. The "mark" is a symbol of "particular unsaved people" in the church betraying Christ and joining Satan's family, and becoming a part of those who no longer worship God, but themselves! To have the mark of Satan's family on your right hand means you are doing the will of the devil, or on your forehead, means you have same mind as the Devil by agreed to His doctrines being preached in the church. For example, professed Christians go to Joel Osteen's church. Joel Osteen is obviously a false prophet and lying motivational speaker who sells (preaching) false doctrine of prosperity, feel-good gospel where no judgment is allowed, tolerates homosexuals, etc. You get the picture. So the professed Christians agree (mind) with Joel's doctrines by buying his "Your Best Life Now" type of books, and shares this with your family, friends, etc. This is how they have "received" the mark of the Beast on their forehead (mind) or right hand to do the will of the devil by spreading his false doctrines. And they get offended by true Christians who have refused to support Joel Osteen's doctrine saying he is a false prophet. Professed Christians will get angry and accused the truth Christians for being unloving, unkind, judgemental, insensitive, not politically correct, etc. Sounds familiar?
Revelation 13:15 KJV
[15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and
cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
True Christians are conformed to the image (doctrine) of Christ. The Professed Christian conformed to the image (doctrine) of the Beast. And the professed Christians will cause many True Christians to be "killed". Being killed means that the truthful testimony of the True Christians has been silenced as you can see that many Churches are starting to falling away with many false prophets and christs ruling there where the Truthful Testimony is no longer heard in the church. Because of this, God will allow the beast to force
everyone who has not yet sealed by God (Revelation 9:1-6)
WITHIN the church to receive the mark of the beast as a judgment so they will be prepared to be thrown in the lake of fire when Christ returns.
Sadly, this is already taking place right now in the church where many professed Christians are looking for a physical fulfillment and physical mark to justify their false doctrines who are unaware that they may already have the dreadful spiritual mark!
2 Peter 1:10 KJV
[10] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to
make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things,
ye shall never fall:
All you have to do to make sure your election sure by believe God's Word and you will never fall. No physical mark can change that unless you have not yet sealed by God and believe beast's lies.