Rev 13:18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. 14:1Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Let's talk about 666, and marks:
Those who had chosen to worship Caesar, there was a mark placed on their right hand or forehead, so the concept is not unfamiliar.
We also know that when the Jews prayed they wore phylacteries on their foreheads or left arm. These are leather pieces with little scrolls of paper inside them which have Bible passages on them.
Soldiers branded themselves with the name of their general to show their allegiance to him.
Slaves were sometimes (usually in a runaway, caught situation) branded with a mark of their owner.
We even see it today with persons tattooing names of their loved ones on their own body.
What we know:
Charagma is the word for the mark of the beast. It would mean that a person would get this mark only at the cost of denying Christ.
We get from the passage that it will be a literal mark on the right hand or forehead.
It is not stated what the name will be but, there have been many attempts to figure it out. Most have been chooses solely on the idea that the Greek translation would cause the name to equal 666. I.e.: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini...etc. The idea is that in the Greek and Hebrew alphabets there is not a separation of letters and numbers. the alphabets stand for numbers. Therefore, add the letters and 666 appear on some of the names. This is truly human speculation and have no Biblical backing.
Remember, he will not appear until after the church is ruptured and there is the formation of the 10 kingdoms.
Interesting fact is that six is the number of man, and the number three is of manifestation. So, three sixes is the full manifestation of man....His last attempt at to be a God?
There is a significance to taking a mark, it could mean:
1. Ownership, whom would you want to belong to?
2. Loyalty, as in the slave or the general mentioned above.
3. Security or Safety, in pas times, a mark could mean you are related to someone of importance and to mess with you would mean to mess with that person as well. Again I ask, who would you want security from?
4. Dependence, total and complete, for food , water, shelter, money etc. Arabic culture did this to show who was responsible for whom. We today do this to a lesser degree with our pets, we put a chip under their skin to inform the person who found them where the animal lives and who is responsible for it.
There have been many many guesses to who this man of 666 may be but, I myself will not be around to see it! I pray that you will not be either! Wisdom is to turn your life over to Christ and don't sweat the numbers!
Another post soon,
Until next time,
Blessings on all!
Calabash
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Revelation 13 :11-18
Rev 13: 11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
Last blog we mentioned there might be an "un-holy or satanic trinity". If this is the cast, the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet would be our three players.
The Dragon we mentioned was thrown down from Heaven and is Satan (the Anti-God). The Beast, the son of the Dragon, who appears on earth, dies (remember, it may not be a physical death), is resurrected, and given power by Satan. and the False Prophet (will speak of in chapters to come).
Turn to Daniel 11:36-45. Here we find a really good description of the Anti-Christ. We read he will arise in Jerusalem, be an atheist ("he shall not regard the God of his fathers" (God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and become a Jew. He would have to become a Jew or he would have no claim to Israel. This guy will not honor God or any supernatural god, until eventually the man to come. (come into power, the first beast).
If this Beast is the son of the Dragon, it would make him the Anti-Christ. This would mean it would be similar things that would coincide with our Holy Christ:
1. It would also be a man. Personal pronouns are used, like "he", to describe this beast.
2. "Coming up out of the earth." Both of the last two beast mentioned will be natural men born in the last days. This will fulfill prophesy of Dan. 7:11, Isa 11:4 and 2 The 2:8.
3. This Beast will arrive after the first beast mentioned and will act as the first beast prophet. (Rev 13:13; 19:20; 20:10)
4. The mentioning of the "like a lamb". Now think here. Whom else do we refer to as "a lamb". That's right! This beast will have some Christ like appearance or mannerisms. Be meek and have strength. But, he will be known by his words..."Spoke like a dragon"!
5. This guy has all the authority of the first beast. He is the first beasts' cheer section, his promotion posse, his PR firm and will convince people to worship the first beast.
6. Verse 13 says he can do miracles, this will help in the deception of men.
7. With all the signs and miracles, it will be easy to convince men to make idols of the first beast. (verse 14)
8. He will be able to convince men to make a image of the first beast and then give it live and cause it to speak and to bring death to those who do not worship this Antichrist.
9. There will be a mark that will be forced upon those who belong to the kingdom of the Antichrist. Either on the forehead or the hand. The mark will be the number of his name. This is where the 666 comes from.
10. People who do not get the mark, will not be able to buy, trade or sell.
This is much information that will be talked about further as we read more of the Book of Revelation. I will stop here for now.
Remember this will happen AFTER the church is taken. You do not have to go through this, you can live a better life NOW. Contact me or a church to turn your life over to Christ. He loves you and wants the best for you, not this, not what is described here. It is truly as easy as ABC !...Admit you need Christ, Believe He died and rose again and Confess Him to be your personal Savior! DONE ! Hang with people who believe in The Holy Bible and strengthen one another with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit in your new life to guide you.
Blessings on all till next time,
Calabash
Last blog we mentioned there might be an "un-holy or satanic trinity". If this is the cast, the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet would be our three players.
The Dragon we mentioned was thrown down from Heaven and is Satan (the Anti-God). The Beast, the son of the Dragon, who appears on earth, dies (remember, it may not be a physical death), is resurrected, and given power by Satan. and the False Prophet (will speak of in chapters to come).
Turn to Daniel 11:36-45. Here we find a really good description of the Anti-Christ. We read he will arise in Jerusalem, be an atheist ("he shall not regard the God of his fathers" (God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and become a Jew. He would have to become a Jew or he would have no claim to Israel. This guy will not honor God or any supernatural god, until eventually the man to come. (come into power, the first beast).
If this Beast is the son of the Dragon, it would make him the Anti-Christ. This would mean it would be similar things that would coincide with our Holy Christ:
1. It would also be a man. Personal pronouns are used, like "he", to describe this beast.
2. "Coming up out of the earth." Both of the last two beast mentioned will be natural men born in the last days. This will fulfill prophesy of Dan. 7:11, Isa 11:4 and 2 The 2:8.
3. This Beast will arrive after the first beast mentioned and will act as the first beast prophet. (Rev 13:13; 19:20; 20:10)
4. The mentioning of the "like a lamb". Now think here. Whom else do we refer to as "a lamb". That's right! This beast will have some Christ like appearance or mannerisms. Be meek and have strength. But, he will be known by his words..."Spoke like a dragon"!
5. This guy has all the authority of the first beast. He is the first beasts' cheer section, his promotion posse, his PR firm and will convince people to worship the first beast.
6. Verse 13 says he can do miracles, this will help in the deception of men.
7. With all the signs and miracles, it will be easy to convince men to make idols of the first beast. (verse 14)
8. He will be able to convince men to make a image of the first beast and then give it live and cause it to speak and to bring death to those who do not worship this Antichrist.
9. There will be a mark that will be forced upon those who belong to the kingdom of the Antichrist. Either on the forehead or the hand. The mark will be the number of his name. This is where the 666 comes from.
10. People who do not get the mark, will not be able to buy, trade or sell.
This is much information that will be talked about further as we read more of the Book of Revelation. I will stop here for now.
Remember this will happen AFTER the church is taken. You do not have to go through this, you can live a better life NOW. Contact me or a church to turn your life over to Christ. He loves you and wants the best for you, not this, not what is described here. It is truly as easy as ABC !...Admit you need Christ, Believe He died and rose again and Confess Him to be your personal Savior! DONE ! Hang with people who believe in The Holy Bible and strengthen one another with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit in your new life to guide you.
Blessings on all till next time,
Calabash
Monday, October 1, 2012
Revelation 13:7-10
Rev 13:7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
We see here that the Book of Life is mentioned and it is mentioned several times in Revelation, Chapters 3, 13,17,20(x2) and 21. This many mentions, it must be important!! In addition, it is mentioned in Psalm 69 and Philip 4. Those names that are in the book are a register of who belongs to God! Is your name there? I pray so! Those that are written in, the Lord will watch over them but, they will be in with a huge group of heathen persons, there will be little to no retreat or sanctuary for them they will most likely be martyred. Those belonging to God will have to endure, it will take great faithfulness to get through this. Remember, there will be no Holy Spirit to be with
You see friend, the book of Revelation is our warning, it is not meant to scare us, it is there to encourage us to keep the faith, to know the promises of God are YES and AMEN for those who believe in Christ Jesus. There is a new Kingdom coming, one of our King and Saviour! He is there for us and will prevent us from going through any of this!
Verse 10 refers to those who are in the Book of Life, there will be no escape of God's wrath. This passage has a connection in the Old Testament, see Jeremiah 15:2. This was a warning from Jeremiah to tell his people what will be happening. Here, we see, if being a Christian means dying by the sword, we will, if it means prison, we will be there, if it means following Christ, we will do it!
Being a Christian we, have our weapons. Steadfastness means hupomone which translates to, not just passively accepting, but courageously accepting what is happening. Loyalty means pistis translated meaning is never wavering in devotion! Praise God he gives us such strength!
The next chapter introduces us to yet another beast so, I will end here and pray for wisdom to all who are reading this that you may glean what is necessary! Please remember, this is a public blog, feel free to write to me if you need assistance. Plus, you are free to share this with someone who you may have concerns about, we want as many with us as possible to enter God's coming Kingdom! Amen!
Till next blog,
Calabash
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