1. Introduction
There is a recent article in Prophesy Watch entitled “The Inevitable Takeover: Digital Identity And Total Control Is Coming” (link: The Inevitable Takeover: Digital Identity And Total Control Is Coming (prophecynewswatch.com) ) that mentions the “mark of the beast.” After reading the ”takeover” article and in light of writing a couple of recent articles about the upcoming rapture of the church, I thought:
Is the “mark of the beast” relevant for the 21st Century believer?
2. “No” and “Yes”
In the context of a current believer per se, my answer is “no.” The “mark of the beast” surfaces during the “great tribulation” (Revelation 13:16-17), which happens after the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Therefore, every believer alive at the rapture will be snatched up out of here. The “mark of the beast,” as well as the “beast” which comes out of the sea (Rev 13:1-8), will not be relevant for those believers per se. Please note this chronology represents my pretribution premillenial theology about the rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ.
In the context of evangelism, the answer is “yes” for three basic reasons. First, prior to the rapture, every believer should be urgently diligent to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8). In my opinion, the rapture of the church is closer than we think, and once we’re out of here, the opportunity to evangelize will be gone for good.
Second, the good news about the “great tribulation” is that people will be saved during that most challenging period. Passages that show that some will be saved are Revelation 15:2-4 and Revelation 20:4-6. It is crucial to tell lost people that there remains a chance for eternal life even after the rapture and during the “great tribulation.”
Third, it is imperative to tell lost people that during the “great tribulation” they will be pressured to worship the beast (and the image of the beast) that comes out of the sea and receive the so-called “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:11-18). For a person to do any of these actions will condemn them to an eternity in hell (Revelation 14:9-11). It appears that those who exercise biblical saving faith during the “great tribulation” will refuse to comply which most likely will result in them being put to death. For those tribulation martyrs being absent from the body means they will be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).
3. Conclusion
As with many things, there is “good” news and “bad” news. Here, the best news is that salvation is available right here and now. If you know that you are lost or are unsure, please take the time to read on.
If You Are an Unbeliever
If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to get ready!! Please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam’s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity. We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell is our eternal destination. Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only means of salvation through Abraham’s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God’s wrath against humanity. God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead. Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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