The mark of the beast:
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Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
How droll that you talk about taking things out of context. Jesus told his disciples what signs to look for when asked about the destruction of the Temple. He said "this generation" would not pass. Yet people make that passage about "us" and not "them."
John says in Revelation that the things he wrote would occur "shortly." Yet people say, "Didn't happen. Shortly must mean something else, like thousands of years. A thousand years is as a day."
People who don't understand what happened then won't understand what could be happening now.
Daniel prophesied about the Abomination of Desolation and the Antichrist (the Prince that shall come), and Jesus reminded His disciples that this would become a reality in the future (see the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24). He also told them that this *detestable thing* (an idol, and that is what *abomination* means to God) would stand in the Holy Place within the temple at Jerusalem, and that it would trigger the Great Tribulation.
Since Christ also predicted the destruction of Herod's temple in the same discourse (which occurred in AD 70), it is clear that He was speaking of a future temple in Jerusalem. And today there are many Jews who are planning to erect the third temple in Jerusalem in the near future. Plans have already been made, red heifers have been obtained, and it has become a matter for discussion among the politicians in Israel just recently. In any event, there must be another temple in Jerusalem in order to fulfil the prophecies regarding the Antichrist.
Now when we come to 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13, they all fit together with Daniel's prophecies. Paul prophesied that the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition (the Antichrist) would sit in the temple of God claiming that he is God. John tells us in Revelation that the whole world will worship (1) Satan, (2) the Beast (the Antichrist), and (3) the animated talking idol (*the image of the Beast*) which will be set up by the False Prophet. This is because (1) God will take the Holy Spirit *out of the way* (which means that the true Church will also be absent from the earth) and (2) God will send *strong delusion* upon the earth so that the world will be deceived by the Antichrist (who will claim to be both God and Christ).
This idolatrous and blasphemous worship will be restricted to 42 months (3 1/2 years). and during that time the Antichrist will demand that every person on earth take the Mark of the Beast in order to buy or sell (meaning in order to survive). Those who refuse to take this mark will be killed (beheaded). The mark is a literal identifying mark which contains the number of the Beast (666), which is also the number of the devil (while being the number of a man who is the devil incarnate). Since we know that electronic chip implants are now a reality, this is probably how the mark will be applied. So when someone enters a grocery store, they will be automatically scanned, and either allowed in or taken to a guillotine.
Now to the unbelieving world this will appear to be science-fiction and fantasy, but Christians are given the privilege of knowing what is coming, so that they may warn others to flee from the wrath to come. Today is still the Day of Grace, but things could change within the next few decades.
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Jesus' way. The first time I opened up to someone about being molested as a child (about ten years ago in my 30s); said person at a later point in time, after a serious argument, turned violent on me yet again, with this time, began to mock me for getting molested, and yelled at me for getting molested, while standing over me (I was on the floor by this point), not ceasing, for a good 10 minutes or so - a real demonic way of cutting me down (don't want to repeat what was said here) while laughing at me; and not just repeating the same thing, all new cuts to the heart and mind. Rage boiled throughout my veins - somehow was able to not proceed in rage; somehow kept the presence of mind to not kill/hurt. I won't let this world beat me like that, all because of Jesus' way.
Turns out, the way she acted made sense - about 5 years ago, I caught her doing some black magic thing red-handed. She denied it for about a year or so, gaslighting me the whole time; almost got instituitionalized when I kept pushing the topic once. Finally, was able to extract from her that she was a satanist, actual and loyal, disguised as a Catholic - deceived me for 15 years.
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I think I understand. Was what you call "presence of mind" the knowledge that you did not really want to kill her even if there was rage boiling inside that suggested to you that maybe you should? That it wasn't you but something else that wanted to kill?
Was there any fear of being punished yourself if you killed her?
Maybe "presence of mind" was not the most correct way to say that, but most common way of saying what "it" is; a better description would be "innermost core"; that's probably more specific but then leads to presence of mind.
So yes, my innermost core prevented me from "seeing red" and acting in the face of evil I guess.
I'm normally pretty angry, still to this day, about the molestation stuff. So much so that I didn't view my alcohol and drug use so much as a party thing, but a breathing thing - just to function with the memories; to sedate me. So I'm well versed in keeping my anger in.
But that night, with something so personal that I never told anyone before, not even my "parents", "brother", "sister" before, and to have it used as a weapon after an already violent turn towards me, from someone who I love(d) so deeply, and with the mocking and laughing, it got close to "Hulk" time. I felt reduced to a child-like state of the feelings I had when I was being molested (still remember the feelings inside like it was yesterday), but this time, there was testosterone mixed in with an adult's body, and in that face of evil, for that duration and unceasing pace, the rage surged like electricity throughout my body; it just almost came out, seeking to destroy all around; uncaring as the world did unto me, a lifetime of hatred and rage if you will, all in that one moment.
Edit to add: I didn't even lay a hand on her then, or since then. Not a push nor a slap either.
It's funny too, a short time after (before I caught her red-handed with the black magic), she actually tried killing me - no rage, just a little argument that set her off. Cold, calculating, premeditated - she failed, obviously, but it wasn't a "moment of passion" scenario. And she's never been molested nor raped, so wasn't sure where that came from at the time - little did I know, lol . She had tried to use suicide as a weapon to keep me around a few times before, even grabbed a knife two different times and started stabbing at her arms, but didn't think she'd turn on me nor try to kill me - hit me yeah, but not kill. How wrong I was, and now I know why - seed of satan's.
I've also never molested anyone, child or adult, but that's been a tame test compared to that night. I will not let it beat me in that I do unto another as was done unto me.
Jesus' way.
Sorry, forgot to answer your question on fear of being punished. No, wasn't thinking at all of anything outside of what was occuring. Parts of my mind and outermost layer just wanted to destroy - a lifetime's worth of rage coming out. All I can say to explain it was the innermost core that was present - tucked deep down inside.
I'm being punished everyday, so I don't have a fear of consequences to human laws - been living with my imprisonment for 35+ years.
On top of that, I was raped as an adult too, by a couple of guys (preceding that night with the ex), so prison can't do to me what's already been done.
I've been tortured too, physically, and psychologically (one of the times I was molested, the person played mind games with me, I was 7).
I don't know if I fear much anymore - not sure what it would be that I fear would be done to me - already experienced it. Even Hell isn't a fear, although I know I'm saved. I'm supposed to fear God, but there's a certain "don't care" attitude I have.
Ready for battle behind Jesus against satan, lol.
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I hope to give you a better response later; but I think you can understand what happened to Cain when he got angry. There may be nothing too wrong with being angry by itself -- but Cain did not control his that "beast." If we allow that beast to rule us, we're in serious trouble. We must say, that's not me, that's not what "I" want to do.
lol, I might know how satan himself feels...when I was young, one of the times I was molested, earlier this time, 5 years old, I was initially kissed, and I don't know how to explain it still to this day, but something was transferred into me, a dark presence, or perhaps, a dark "air" - almost like a sphere of darkness or like a "black hole". It struck me dumb in the least until I graduated high school and taught myself how to learn, and logic/reasoning (not saying I'm smart or anything, was just extremely dumb in my grade school days - I know this, because I know how I've changed) - my life up till then was all emotional upheaval, no room for learning in my brain then. I had a lot of visions in my early teens - when I was 13 I actually saw my now ex but without a face, everything else to a 't' (size, body type, hair color). I also had OCD bad (had to count to 7 in whatever I did), and beat that only after a little after it started.
Anyway, the anger and rage have been brewing since then - the "beast" as you stated, which I agree with. I guess I passed the test...thanks to Jesus and only Jesus - knowing how he didn't react when he was tortured.
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Well, I've let this much fly out, might as well get some of the rest out. I've met satan, face to face, a couple of times now. He tried to possess me 6 years and 1 month ago (2013) - I was an unwitting participant in a satanic ritual (would have been unwilling had I known what was happening to me) - guess I should've guessed that my ex was satanic at that point, but I had no way of knowing she was involved; lol I didn't even know that I was involved, still don't really understand it all. Anyway, I saw him fly into me, and I don't know how, but in between the visual processing part of the brain and the eyes, I saw him climb up from within me. At that point, two triangles (one pointed up, one pointed down) interconnected and formed a star of David, in yellow. Satan was then expelled from my brain - not sure how to explain it still, but I know what I saw within.
There's more to, but I'm not sure how much I'm supposed to talk about. I don't even know if God wanted me to share this, but He didn't say not to.
There's more to, but I'm not sure how much I'm supposed to talk about. I don't even know if God wanted me to share this, but He didn't say not to.
BARNEY BRIGHT
Well-Known Member
BARNEY BRIGHT
Well-Known Member
PART TWO OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST
A Human Number”
A third clue to the meaning of 666 lies in its being “a man’s number,” or as The Amplified Bible puts it, “a human number.” This expression could not refer to an individual human, for Satan—not any man—has authority over the beast. (Luke 4:5, 6; 1 John 5:19;Revelation 13:2, 18) Rather, the beast’s having “a human number,” or mark, suggests that it is a human entity, not spirit or demon, and that it therefore manifests certain human traits. What might they be? The Bible answers, saying: “All [humans] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The beast’s having “a human number,” therefore, indicates that governments reflect the fallen human condition, the mark of sin and imperfection.
History bears this out. “Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed,” said former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. “History is a tale of efforts that failed, of aspirations that weren’t realized . . . So, as a historian, one has to live with a sense of the inevitability of tragedy.” Kissinger’s honest appraisal testifies to this fundamental Bible truth: “To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23
Now that we have identified the beast and discerned how God views it, we are in a position to examine the final part of our puzzle—the number six and why it is written in triple digits—that is, 666, or 600 plus 60 plus 6.
Six Repeated Three Times—Why?
In the Scriptures, certain numbers have symbolic significance. The number seven, for example, is often used to symbolize that which is complete, or perfect, in God’s eyes. For instance, God’s creative week comprises seven ‘days,’ or extended time periods, during which God completely accomplishes his creative purpose regarding the earth. (Genesis 1:3–2:3) God’s “sayings” are like silver that has been “clarified seven times,” thus perfectly refined. (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5, 6) The leper Naaman was told to bathe seven times in the Jordan River, after which he was completely healed.—2 Kings 5:10, 14.
Six is one short of seven. Would it not be a fitting symbol of something imperfect, or defective, in God’s eyes? Yes, indeed! (1 Chronicles 20:6, 7) Moreover, six repeated three times, as 666, powerfully stresses that imperfection. That this is the correct view is supported by the fact that 666 is “a human number,” as we have considered. Thus, the beast’s record, its “human number,” and the number 666 itself all point to one unmistakable conclusion—gross shortcoming and failure in the eyes of Jehovah.
The portrayal of the beast’s deficiencies calls to mind what was said about King Belshazzar of ancient Babylon. Through Daniel, Jehovah said to that ruler: “You have been weighed in the balances and have been found deficient.” That very night Belshazzar was killed, and the mighty Babylonian Empire fell. (Daniel 5:27, 30) Likewise, God’s judgment of the political beast and of those with its mark spells the end of that entity and its supporters. In this instance, however, God will eradicate not just one political system but every vestige of human rule. (Daniel 2:44;Revelation 19:19, 20) How important, therefore, that we avoid having the deadly mark of the beast!
The Mark Identified
Immediately after disclosing the number 666, Revelation mentions 144,000 followers of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who have his name and the name of his Father, Jehovah, written on their foreheads. These names identify the bearers as belonging to Jehovah and to his Son, about whom they proudly bear witness. Likewise, those having the mark of the beast proclaim their servitude to the beast. Thus, the mark, whether on the right hand or on the forehead, figuratively speaking, is a symbol that identifies its bearer as one who gives worshipful support to the beastlike political systems of the world. Those having the mark give to “Caesar” that which rightly belongs to God. (Luke 20:25; Revelation 13:4, 8; 14:1) How? By giving worshipful honor to the political state, its symbols, and its military might, to which they look for hope and salvation. Any worship that they render the true God is merely lip service.
In contrast, the Bible urges us: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (Psalm 146:3, 4) Those who heed that wise counsel are not disillusioned when governments fail to deliver on their promises or when charismatic leaders fall from grace.—Proverbs 1:33.
This does not mean that true Christians sit back and do nothing about mankind’s plight. On the contrary, they actively proclaim the one government that will solve mankind’s problems—God’s Kingdom, which they represent.—Matthew 24:14.
God’s Kingdom—Mankind’s Only Hope
When on earth, Jesus made God’s Kingdom the main theme of his preaching. (Luke 4:43) In his model prayer, sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught his followers to pray for that Kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done here on earth. (Matthew 6:9, 10) The Kingdom is a government that will rule over the entire earth, not from some earthly capital, but from heaven. Hence, Jesus called it “the kingdom of the heavens.”—Matthew 11:12.
Who is better suited to be King of that Kingdom than Jesus Christ, the one who died for his future subjects? (Isaiah 9:6, 7; John 3:16) Soon this perfect Ruler, now a mighty spirit person, will hurl the beast, its kings, and its armies into “the fiery lake that burns with sulphur,” a symbol of complete destruction. But that is not all. Jesus will also get rid of Satan, something that no human could ever do.—Revelation 11:15; 19:16, 19-21; 20:2, 10.
God’s Kingdom will bring peace to all its obedient subjects. (Psalm 37:11, 29; 46:8, 9) Even sorrow, pain, and death will be no more. What a glorious prospect for those who remain free of the mark of the beast!—Revelation 21:3, 4.
While recognizing that human rulership is often beastlike, true Christians subject themselves to the governmental “superior authorities,” as the Bible directs. (Romans 13:1) When such authorities command them to act contrary to God’s law, however, they “obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.
A Human Number”
A third clue to the meaning of 666 lies in its being “a man’s number,” or as The Amplified Bible puts it, “a human number.” This expression could not refer to an individual human, for Satan—not any man—has authority over the beast. (Luke 4:5, 6; 1 John 5:19;Revelation 13:2, 18) Rather, the beast’s having “a human number,” or mark, suggests that it is a human entity, not spirit or demon, and that it therefore manifests certain human traits. What might they be? The Bible answers, saying: “All [humans] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The beast’s having “a human number,” therefore, indicates that governments reflect the fallen human condition, the mark of sin and imperfection.
History bears this out. “Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed,” said former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. “History is a tale of efforts that failed, of aspirations that weren’t realized . . . So, as a historian, one has to live with a sense of the inevitability of tragedy.” Kissinger’s honest appraisal testifies to this fundamental Bible truth: “To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23
Now that we have identified the beast and discerned how God views it, we are in a position to examine the final part of our puzzle—the number six and why it is written in triple digits—that is, 666, or 600 plus 60 plus 6.
Six Repeated Three Times—Why?
In the Scriptures, certain numbers have symbolic significance. The number seven, for example, is often used to symbolize that which is complete, or perfect, in God’s eyes. For instance, God’s creative week comprises seven ‘days,’ or extended time periods, during which God completely accomplishes his creative purpose regarding the earth. (Genesis 1:3–2:3) God’s “sayings” are like silver that has been “clarified seven times,” thus perfectly refined. (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5, 6) The leper Naaman was told to bathe seven times in the Jordan River, after which he was completely healed.—2 Kings 5:10, 14.
Six is one short of seven. Would it not be a fitting symbol of something imperfect, or defective, in God’s eyes? Yes, indeed! (1 Chronicles 20:6, 7) Moreover, six repeated three times, as 666, powerfully stresses that imperfection. That this is the correct view is supported by the fact that 666 is “a human number,” as we have considered. Thus, the beast’s record, its “human number,” and the number 666 itself all point to one unmistakable conclusion—gross shortcoming and failure in the eyes of Jehovah.
The portrayal of the beast’s deficiencies calls to mind what was said about King Belshazzar of ancient Babylon. Through Daniel, Jehovah said to that ruler: “You have been weighed in the balances and have been found deficient.” That very night Belshazzar was killed, and the mighty Babylonian Empire fell. (Daniel 5:27, 30) Likewise, God’s judgment of the political beast and of those with its mark spells the end of that entity and its supporters. In this instance, however, God will eradicate not just one political system but every vestige of human rule. (Daniel 2:44;Revelation 19:19, 20) How important, therefore, that we avoid having the deadly mark of the beast!
The Mark Identified
Immediately after disclosing the number 666, Revelation mentions 144,000 followers of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who have his name and the name of his Father, Jehovah, written on their foreheads. These names identify the bearers as belonging to Jehovah and to his Son, about whom they proudly bear witness. Likewise, those having the mark of the beast proclaim their servitude to the beast. Thus, the mark, whether on the right hand or on the forehead, figuratively speaking, is a symbol that identifies its bearer as one who gives worshipful support to the beastlike political systems of the world. Those having the mark give to “Caesar” that which rightly belongs to God. (Luke 20:25; Revelation 13:4, 8; 14:1) How? By giving worshipful honor to the political state, its symbols, and its military might, to which they look for hope and salvation. Any worship that they render the true God is merely lip service.
In contrast, the Bible urges us: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (Psalm 146:3, 4) Those who heed that wise counsel are not disillusioned when governments fail to deliver on their promises or when charismatic leaders fall from grace.—Proverbs 1:33.
This does not mean that true Christians sit back and do nothing about mankind’s plight. On the contrary, they actively proclaim the one government that will solve mankind’s problems—God’s Kingdom, which they represent.—Matthew 24:14.
God’s Kingdom—Mankind’s Only Hope
When on earth, Jesus made God’s Kingdom the main theme of his preaching. (Luke 4:43) In his model prayer, sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught his followers to pray for that Kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done here on earth. (Matthew 6:9, 10) The Kingdom is a government that will rule over the entire earth, not from some earthly capital, but from heaven. Hence, Jesus called it “the kingdom of the heavens.”—Matthew 11:12.
Who is better suited to be King of that Kingdom than Jesus Christ, the one who died for his future subjects? (Isaiah 9:6, 7; John 3:16) Soon this perfect Ruler, now a mighty spirit person, will hurl the beast, its kings, and its armies into “the fiery lake that burns with sulphur,” a symbol of complete destruction. But that is not all. Jesus will also get rid of Satan, something that no human could ever do.—Revelation 11:15; 19:16, 19-21; 20:2, 10.
God’s Kingdom will bring peace to all its obedient subjects. (Psalm 37:11, 29; 46:8, 9) Even sorrow, pain, and death will be no more. What a glorious prospect for those who remain free of the mark of the beast!—Revelation 21:3, 4.
While recognizing that human rulership is often beastlike, true Christians subject themselves to the governmental “superior authorities,” as the Bible directs. (Romans 13:1) When such authorities command them to act contrary to God’s law, however, they “obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.
bbyrd009
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hey BB, how ya been?
"soon," huh?
Only God knows when, right?
return to Me and I will return to you
"soon," huh?
Only God knows when, right?
return to Me and I will return to you
ah, i've forgotten what the test was now?
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bbyrd009
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oh that was...several lifetimes ago now, if you get me :)
i still dont enjoy life like i would like, your testimony there was familiar, but i was pretty spoiled materially as a kid, and after all i did ask for wisdom lol. I reap what i sow now...or i mean i'm more conscious of that now.
bbyrd009
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how did you get to torment in Abe's bosom again? I recall Lazarus (Eleazer) being gathered to there in a parable, but not the rich man? Maybe i'm mis-remembering tho
bbyrd009
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as a rule i pretty much avoid debating the Revelation of Christ specifically, as any two debaters there almost never share the same frame imo? Where is Christ revealed, iyo? What is "the second death?" We are taught to believe that these are all in our "future, after we die" but i am not convinced that that is the best application
ha well i hope you have got past your problems there, too, although i couldnt imagine what feelings are involved. Imo overcoming emotions ("women," maybe?) in general might help. I used to be run by my emotions, understanding how codependent i was helped a lot
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If I had to give one passage that describes “hell” it would be: Isaiah 34:8-12 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. [9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. [10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. [11] But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness(fu·til·i·ty) 12] They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
Job 10:22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
bbyrd009
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i know the wolves will rush in as soon as i leave, not sparing the flock. Not meaning to say that all tax-free orgs are all "bad" by any means, but they have def entered into a conflict of interest most times imo
well i guess we all have to define how we manifest leave the world for ourselves more or less, the Directions there are kinda sketchy huh
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