Post by mfox on Mar 21, 2018 3:08:21 GMT
What is the mark of the beast?
If it is a literal mark would that contradict scripture?
I do not believe that the mark of the beast is a physical literal mark if it is then it contradicts scripture. Revelation says that who ever has the mark will perish. That means that they can’t repent.
Revelation 14:9-12
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
It even says that the mark is forced upon them
Revelation 13:16-17
16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Why can't they repent?
If it said that they won't repent that would make sense but not that they can't repent.
This scripture proves that people can repent.
Romans 10:13
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
The only unforgivable sin is the constant rejection of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 12:31-32
31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
If someone took the mark out of fear and then repented and died for rejecting it wouldn't God forgive them? I believe yes but that is not what it says in Revelation but the bible doesn’t contradict itself so that tells us that it can't be a physical mark.
I believe that the mark represents what you are devoted to (the mark on the forehead) and what you do (the mark on the hand) just like in these scriptures about what God told the Jews.
Exodus 13:9
9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand
Exodus 13:16
16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand
The marks and seals of God were not physical on the people in the above verses in Exodus or these next verses.
Revelation 7:3
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
and Ezekiel 9:4
4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.
God looks at where the heart is at not a physical mark or a decision out of fear if they couldn‘t repent why do they still live? God also would not contradict himself if someone realized that they made a mistake and called out to him he would have compassion on them.
Romans 10:13
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If God would forgive the people who physically killed Jesus why would he not forgive someone who received the mark? Lets not forget that God forgave the apostle Paul who was persecuting the church.
I think that this shows that the mark of the beast is not a physical mark but something much deeper.
I think that John told the 7 churches the number of the beast name so that they would know who it was in their day. I believe that it was Nero representing the empire of Rome as Nero s name equaled the number 666. Why would John tell a first century church the number if it was a 21st century beast?
More verses that are promised to us.
Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
1John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
None of these verses add at the end unless you receive the mark of the beast.
